BANGKOK, 27 September 2003 — Third seed Carlos Moya was beaten by Finn Jarkko Nieminen and local favorite Paradorn Srichaphan lost to sixth seed Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open yesterday.
Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was stretched to a third set tiebreak before advancing but eighth seeded American Taylor Dent had it easy after Frenchman Nicolas Thomann retired with a foot injury after dropping the first set 6-3.
Moya was beaten 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, in a two hour 12 minute battle that remained in the balance until the final ball, and fellow Spaniard Ferrero’s two hour four minute struggle could also have swung either way until he overcame Gregory Carraz of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
Fourth seeded Paradorn had to fight back tears after falling to the firepower of Ljubicic, whose 22 aces played a large part in his 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory.
“He played an excellent match,” Moya said of the fifth-seeded Nieminem. “I had the feeling he was controlling the match more than I was. He was returning very well and I had the feeling he was winning his serve easier than I was. If I had won I would have been a little bit surprised.”
Philippoussis, Novak Advance
to Semifinals in Shanghai
In Shanghai, Australian Mark Philippoussis battled his way to victory yesterday, defeating Guillermo Canas of Argentina 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), to earn a place in the semifinals of the $380,000 ATP tournament. Third seed Philippoussis overpowered the hard-hitting Canas with his booming serve, as the ATP 15th ranked player failed to capitalize on numerous break opportunities in the second set that would have forced the match to a third set.
Philippoussis will meet today Sweden’s Robin Soderling, who toughed it out against Scott Draper of Australia, to earn his first-ever berth in an ATP semi-final, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1).
Earlier, top seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic moved one step closer to a second straight title when injury forced Magnus Norman to retire in the first set. Novak had just broken Norman in the third game to go 2-1 up when the injury-prone Swede, suffering from muscular pain near his left hip, called it quits.
Wayne Arthurs of Australia fought off a strong challenge from Ivo Karlovic, downing the Croatian 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2). Arthurs, will face Novak in the semifinals today.
Clijsters Victory Sets Up
Revenge Match With Myskina
In Leipzig, world No. 1 Kim Clijsters romped into the semifinals of the Leipzig Grand Prix with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder yesterday.
Clijsters will now get a chance to avenge her loss to Anastasia Myskina at the tournament last year when the pair meet in today’s semifinals. Third seed Myskina came back from a set and a break down to oust Russian compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-7, 6-1, 6-1.
Maria Vento-Kabchi reached her second semifinal in three weeks after Czech Sandra Kleinova retired with a thigh injury.
