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  • Stockholm - Nalbandian, Nieminen into semis, Ancic ill again

    10/11/08 3:02 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - All four of the top seeds save the ailing Mario Ancic were in action on Friday in the quarterfinals

    The first semi-finalist of the day was decided before a ball was ever struck. Kei Nishikori moved through on a walk-over from Croatia’s Mario Ancic. Ancic continues to struggle with illness since he was sidelined for six months last year with glandular fever. He missed the Masters event in Cincinnati as well as the US Open this summer because of an unspecified illness. Nishikori makes his first semifinal appearance since winning Delray Beach in February.

    Tournament number one seed Argentine David Nalbandian continued to make it look easy in his straight set 6-4, 6-1 victory over Albert Montanes of Spain. The Spaniard had a break point in the second game of the first set, but Nalbandian saved it. The two men held serve until 4-4 on Montanes’ serve. The Spaniard got in 15-40 hole; Nalbandian secured the break with a fantastic dipping backhand. Nalbandian easily served out the first set.

    The Argentine continued his impressive form in the second set. At 1-1 on the Spaniard’s serve, Nalbandian converted his first break point of the set with a blistering return winner. Nalbandian beat Montanes up for the rest of the match, not allowing the Spaniard another game.

    Completing the semi-final roster is Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen. The Finn had a comprehensive win over Spanish clay-courter Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-4. Errors creeped into the Spaniard’s game early on and Nieminen kept the pressure on throughout the one hour, twenty-two minute match. Nieminen will have the difficult task of playing David Nalbandian on Saturday.

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