Cilic to face Melzer in Zagreb Indoors semi-finals

Top seed Marin Cilic of Croatia battled to a 7-6 6-4 win over compatriot Ivo Karlovic to stay on course for his second consecutive Zagreb Indoors title.

The Australian Open semi-finalist and world number 10 faced 24 aces from the towering 6-foot-10 (2.08 metres) Karlovic in the first set which he edged in a tiebreak.

But Cilic broke the seventh seed in the first game of the second after a series of errors by his opponent and held serve comfortably to secure victory after one hour 43 minutes.

Cilic now faces Austrian third seed Juergen Melzer, who got past Ukrainian Illya Marchenko 6-3 6-0 7-5.

Germany's Michael Berrer reached the last four of an ATP Tour event for the first time since October 2007 after upsetting fourth seed Viktor Troicki 6-4 6-3 in 84 minutes.

The Serb had reached the semi-finals last year.

On Saturday, world number 65 Berrer faces countryman Philipp Petzschner, who beat Slovakia's Lukas Lacko 6-7 6-2 6-2.

Melzer knows he will have to be at his best to beat Cilic, who lost to Andy Murray in last month's Australian open semis.

"I expect a tough match against Cilic tomorrow... he's in great shape and has made it to the top ten this year but I have nothing to lose and I'm looking forward to it," he said.
 

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