BEIJING, 18 September 2004 — Flying Finn Jarkko Nieminen soared into his third semifinal of the season Friday night, stunning third seed David Nalbandian 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 at the $500,000 China Open.
The 23-year-old ranked 71st in the world produced his best performance since February when he reached the final four at Dubai, losing to Roger Federer. He also played a semi at the start of the year in Adelaide, taking a straight-sets loss to Dominik Hrbaty.
Nieminen will next face Russian fifth seed Marat Safin, who moved ahead over American Kevin Kim, 6-2, 6-4. Safin, a former world No. 1, lifted his last title in November, 2002.
He got on and off court in a hurry against Kim, ranked 143. “I’m playing much better,” said the fifth seed. “I’m more confident on court and it was easy for me to find my game today. I’m already thinking about the semi-finals.”
Nieminen is showing continuing form after recovering from a wrist injury which kept him away for much of the spring and early summer. He now stands 18-13 in 2004 after not having played from mid-April to early July.
The Argentine admitted he got caught out, beaten by the better player. “We always have difficult matches and he was better today,” said the 2002 Wimbledon finalist. “I didn’t play great but I have no excuses. My fitness was fine and I wasn’t tired from jet-lag.”
Nieminen roared back in the final set as he broke for a second time for 3-0, winning after Nalbandian saved four break points. The Finn had all the momentum required to coast to victory after one hour, 54 minutes.
Paradorn Srichaphan stretched his Asian domination of Korean’s Lee Hyung-taik to three straight victories as he rolled 6-4, 6-3 into the last four. The sixth-seeded Paradorn from Thailand has never played Lee outside the region, with the inaugural edition of the Beijing event the top venue so far for their rivalry.
Paradorn improved his record this season to 36 wins, 22 defeats as he rained down 11 aces in the 75-minute, quarterfinal victory.
Paradorn will come up against Russian Mikhail Youzhny, a winner over eighth seed Hrbaty 6-4, 6-2. “It’s great to be in another semifinal, especially in Asia,” said Paradorn. “There is always a lot of pressure on me when I play Lee; I’m the Asian No. 1 and he’s No. 2. It’s always tough to play him.”
Top-seeded Spadea Reaches Delray Beach Quarters
In Delray Beach, Florida, top-seeded American Vincent Spadea cruised past compatriot James Blake 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the $380,000 Millennium International Tennis Tournament.
Spadea, 30 next faces qualifier Hugo Armando, who defeated American compatriot Jeff Morrison 7-6 (7 4), 6-3 in another second-round encounter. Spadea is one of just two seeds left in the tournament.
No. 3 Mario Ancic of Croatia reached the quarterfinals on Wednesday, the same day that Brazilian Ricardo Mello shocked second-seeded American Mardy Fish for a place in the final eight.
Mello will face France’s Jerome Golmard in the quarterfinals, while Ancic will take on Denmark’s Kenneth Carlsen.
On Thursday, big-serving Briton Greg Rusedski beat American qualifier Matias Boeker 6-3, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal clash with American Jeff Salzenstein. Salzenstein outlasted countryman Paul Goldstein 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.
Russian Stars Shine in Bali
In Nusa Dua, Russia’s US Open champ Svetlana Kuznetsova and compatriot Nadia Petrova yesterday advanced to the semifinals of the Wismilak WTA tennis tournament. Kuznetsova beat home favorite and 2001 Wimbledon junior champion Angelique Widjaja 7-5, 6-1 in a match the Russian described as tough. “In each tournament you have to play tough matches against various players and today was one of those tough days.
Angie is a nice person, she did well in her junior period. Although now she has injuries she has improved,” Kuznetsova said.
The 20-year-old Widjaja has been dogged by a nagging ankle injury which she first received at the Qatar Open in February this year. Kuznetsova said she was confident of outclassing fellow Russian Petrova in the semifinals.
“I will try my best to play better than in New York. In New York, although I won, I felt I didn’t play my best game,” she said.
If I play my game as usual I’m sure I can win,” she said.
Fourth seeded Petrova overcame Tathiana Garbin of Italy 6-1 in the first set but the Russian trailed 5-1 in the second before ending the match 7-5.
In another quarterfinal match, Italian Maria Elena Camerin defeated Gisela Dulko of Argentina 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Camerin, ranked 61st, beat top-seeded Anastasia Myskina of Russia in the second round Thursday.
“I have played Gisela several times and we know each other’s characters. Yesterday was tougher physically and mentally. It was emotionally hard for me to play against the world number two,” Camerin said.
In the semifinals, Camerin will face Marlene Weingartner of Germany, who beat South Korea’s Yoon Jeong Choo 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
