Third-seeded James Blake shrugged off a string of unforced errors Friday to beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and advance to the semifinals of the Thailand Open.
Blake will face Marat Safin, who defeated Mischa Zverev 7-6 (4), 5-7, 7-5.
Top-seed Ivan Ljubicic defeated Robby Ginepri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 despite being treated for a right shoulder injury during the match. Ljubicic, ranked No. 4, had treatment several times in the first and second sets, but still wielded powerful serves and solid groundstrokes.
Ljubicic will play Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan, who rallied to beat Tim Henman 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (4) in front of 6,000 enthusiastic fans. Paradorn trailed 2-5 in the third set before winning the tiebreaker.
``I just hung in there and tried my best, thinking it was just one break down,'' said Paradorn, who will play in the semifinals for the third straight year.
Blake, chasing his fourth ATP title this year, cruised through the opening set in 20 minutes with powerful groundstrokes before falling behind the fifth-seeded Nieminen 2-5 in the second.
``I hoped to turn it around and tried to dictate play with my forehands,'' Blake said.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
