Stakhovsky run continues

Sergiy Stakhovsky advanced to his first ATP semi-final on Thursday with a 3-6 6-4 6-2 victory over eighth-seeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors tennis tournament.

Stakhovsky wasn't even in the draw at the hard-court event until Michael Llodra backed out at the last minute - but the world's 209th-ranked player has certainly made the most of his lucky loser opportunity.

He opened the tournament with a stunning 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win over second seed and world number 21 Ivo Karlovic, who was playing on home soil.

Stakhovsky then beat unseeded Viktor Troicki in the second round to set a meeting with the 44th-ranked Tipsarevic, who made a name for himself by taking world number one Roger Federer to five sets at the Australian Open.

Tipsarevic secured his only two breaks of the match in winning the opening set but Stakhovsky took control from there, winning 26-of-33 (78%) first-serve points and earning three breaks over the next two sets.

Stakhovsky awaits the winner of the quarter-final clash between Olivier Rochus and Simone Bolelli.

The only remaining seeded player in the draw is Ivan Ljubicic, the top seed who faces Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili in the last eight on Thursday.

The Croat has traditionally played well here, compiling an 11-1 record, including the title at the inaugural tournament in 2006.

The 28-year-old also reached the championship match last year, but lost to Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.

The only other Croat still involved is Mario Ancic, who will face Robin Haase of Holland in the remaining quarter-final.

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