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By: Ted LePak
Photo Credit: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Marcos Baghdatis, the former Australian Open runner-up, displayed his talent in a flawless match when he beat top seed Juan Martin Del Potro in the Sydney International quarter-final last night.

Baghdatis fired up 12 aces and broke del Potro's serve twice, while the big world No. 11 Argentine settled for seven aces and only one break.

"I played great today. It was not such a good match yesterday but I spoke with my coach (Miles Maclagan) and he just said to go for it. So I went for it," Baghdatis said.
The experienced del Potro had led the set 5-3 at one stage but then found himself in a tie-breaker.

Del Potro took the early advantage and had two set points but Baghdatis saved both and then needed one set point of his own to take out the set.

Baghdatis made the decisive break in the seventh game of the second set, before serving out the match.

Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, now heads to Melbourne but feels a little short of matches he needs for his rhythm.

"I need matches to take the confidence to play my best tennis. But playing in a grand slam always is special, and I have really good memories of Melbourne," said del Potro who reached the fourth round two years ago and the quarter-finals in 2009.

"Tonight I had a chance in the first set and I didn't take it. When you lose every chance and the opponent is like Marcos, you will lose," he said. "Anyway, Marcos I think played better and better during the match. In the end of the match he was completely confident with his game and made a lot of winners with the backhand and forehand."

Baghdatis' semifinal opponent on Friday will be Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who cruised past Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-2, 6-4.

Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, both qualifiers, will meet in the other semi-final. (Something about when was the last time Istomin and Nieminen made an ATP Tour semifinal).

Istomin expelled third-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (4). There are no seeds left heading into the final four.

Nieminen reached the semifinal after he bested (ranking) American Bobby Reynolds, 6-3, 6-3.

 

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