GSTAAD, Switzerland, 12 July 2003 — Wimbledon champion Roger Federer was given a walkover into the semifinals of the Swiss Open yesterday when his opponent David Sanchez of Spain pulled out with a knee injury. To the dismay of the local fans keen to witness their compatriot extend his run of 14 straight match wins since April 4, the 21-year-old was given a welcome rest that boosted his hopes of winning his home title for the first time.

“I came off the practice court and I was ready to go on court for my match when I was told the news,” said Federer, 21, whose popularity has led to a huge increase in attendances in the Alpine resort this week.

“I am happy to be in the semifinals and it doesn’t matter how, but I do feel sorry for him. Injuries are always problems. It is not often you get games like this when you are given a walkover before the start.”

To placate the crowds — and a small army of media photographers and camera crews — the Gstaad organizers organised a 20-minute exhibition game for Federer, who played with compatriot Michael Lammer.

Federer is seeking to win the Swiss Open, played on an outdoor clay court, for the first time. In five previous attempts he has lost in the first round four times, only once reaching the second round.

Federer, who heads the ATP Champions race this year, now meets last year’s beaten finalist Gaston Gaudio. The Argentine fourth seed, one of the strongest clay court players on the ATP tour, beat unseeded Austrian Stefan Koubek 6-3, 6-1 in the day’s last quarterfinal.

Earlier, Radek Stepanek and Jiri Novak both advanced to a last four meeting, guaranteeing one Czech Republic player a place in the final. Eighth seed Stepanek beat second-seeded German Rainer Schuettler 6-4 ,6-2 while third seed Novak disposed of fifth seed Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-3, 6-3.Novak’s victory was his first in three meetings with Chela and prompted him to suggest he had rediscovered his best form. But, he warned, that was not likely to be any assurance of an easy passage against compatriot Stepanek in their all-Czech semifinal.

Lapentti Overcomes

Nadal in Marathon

In Bastad, Sweden, Ecuador’s sixth seed Nicolas Lapentti saved five match points before defeating Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the Swedish Open semifinals yesterday.

Top seed and defending champion Carlos Moya also reached the last four, the Spaniard comfortably defeating Swedish doubles specialist Jonas Bjorkman 6-4, 6-3.

In a marathon match lasting almost three hours, Lapentti needed to play his best tennis to oust Nadal, who had dominated the opening set. Lapentti mixed his serve and volley game with some clever drop shots to get back into the match.

Bryan Reaches Semifinals

at Newport Tennis

In Newport, Rhode Island, doubles specialist Bob Bryan reached his first career singles semifinals Thursday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over France’s Cyril Saulnier at the $380,000 ATP Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Bryan who received a wild card berth into the tournament, was the first player to make it to the semifinals after a handful of matches were suspended or postponed Wednesday due to rain.