Chile's Fernando Gonzalez will face big-serving Ivan Ljubicic in the semi-finals at the China Open after the Croatian stunned titleholder Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) on Friday. The fourth-seeded Ljubicic - ranked 12th in the world - beat 2006 Australian Open finalist Baghdatis for the first time in four attempts, including a loss at Zagreb earlier this year.
Ljubicic took a 3-0 lead in the decisive third-set tiebreaker, only to quickly find himself level with the Cypriot at 3-all. The 28-year-old Croatian - who has won twice this year, in Doha and s-Hertogenbosch - then dug deep, with Baghdatis saving two match points before going out on the third.
Gonzalez, the second seed, survived a tough challenge from South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik - and some wet weather. The 27-year-old Gonzalez - who defeated Lee, 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 - has come alive this week in China, after a dismal summer hard court season marked by four consecutive first-round defeats after Wimbledon.
"He wasn't playing too well at the beginning," said Gonzalez, who jumped ahead 5-0 in less than 20 minutes before Lee levelled at five apiece before the skies opened. When they resumed, the Chilean claimed the first set 7-5 and was leading 3-0 in the second when the skies opened again.
"He started to play well and I missed a few shots," said Gonzalez, who committed 21 unforced errors. "It was mentally tough due to all the stopping and starting," said the 2007 Australian Open finalist.
Lee, who was Asia's last hope in the tournament, grabbed the momentum, pushing the match into a third and final set, but Gonzalez's experience proved too much for him. The world number seven fired eight aces and broke Lee's serve four times during the match. Ljubicic has a 4-3 record against Gonzalez going into Saturday's showdown.