Top-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian will meet two-time former finalist and No. 3 seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland for the 10th time on Saturday in the Stockholm Open semifinals.
Nalbandian, who started the week at No. 26 in the ATP 2008 Race, improved to 32-13 on the season following a 6-4, 6-1 win in 63 minutes over Albert Montanes of Spain in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Nalbandian can earn 40 points to his ATP 2008 Race tally should he capture his ninth ATP title on Sunday.
The 26-year-old won the Buenos Aires title and finished runner-up in Acapulco in February.
Nieminen secured his place in the Stockholm semifinals for a third time after dismissing Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-4 on Friday.
The left-hander converted five of seven break points in total during the 82-minute encounter. The 2001 and 2006 runner-up improved to a 14-8 record at the indoor event.
Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori was granted a place in his second ATP semifinal of the season without having to strike a ball, as his second-seeded opponent, Mario Ancic of Croatia, withdrew prior to the match with acute bronchitis with fever.
Coming into Stockholm, the 24-year-old Ancic had been limited to just two ATP main draw appearances since reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals, sidelined due to a recurrence of glandular fever.
The 18-year-old Nishikori, who captured his maiden ATP title at Delray Beach in February, will face Robin Soderling for the first time.
The Swedish No. 4 seed improved to 11-5 in Stockholm after knocking out fifth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 7-5 in 74 minutes.
Soderling struck 13 aces, winning 28 of 33 points on first serve in the pair's fifth meeting.
Source: Xinhua
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