Gulbis makes first semi-final in St Petersburg

Latvian teenager Ernest Gulbis reached his first ATP semi-final with a 7-6 6-7 6-2 win over Czech Jan Hernych at the St Petersburg Open on Friday.
The 204th-ranked Gulbis, who had only won three ATP matches in his fledgling career until this week, has already doubled his output in Russia's northern capital as he repaid the trust of tournament organisers who gave him a wildcard invite. "I had to adjust myself to playing on centre court," said the promising 18-year-old from Riga, coached by famous tennis mentor Niki Pilic. "It's not often that I get a chance to play on a big stage like this."