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Dominant Del Potro still dreaming of London

Juan Martin del Potro can add 230 ranking points by winning in Vienna this week © PA Photos

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Juan Martin del Potro produced a brilliant serving display to book his place in the semi-finals of the Erste Bank Open with a 6-2 6-4 win against former champion Tommy Haas.

Number two seed Del Potro, 23, was utterly dominant on his serve, firing down 10 aces and winning 88% of the points on his first effort. Haas, who won the tournament in 2001, could not gain a foothold in the match, failing to earn any break points against his Argentinean opponent, while being broken three times himself, as he succumbed to Del Potro's power in 81 minutes.

Currently No. 12 in the race for the end-of-season ATP Tour Finals in London, with three spots left up for grabs, Del Potro - the world No. 15 - is still in the hunt and says he is relishing the battle for the final places.

"It is going to be very tough, but if I win all the tournaments to Paris [the BNP Paribas Masters] it is possible," he said. "I don't feel pressure about the Finals, I just want to finish the year as strongly as I can. I'm almost Top 10 again, but with my ranking today I am very happy.

"I hope to have more confidence in my tennis and fitness next year. I am happy to reach another semi-final this year. It is important for my comeback and for the future."

Kevin Anderson lies in wait for the Argentine after the sixth seed saw off two-time defending champion Jurgen Melzer. Anderson smashed 11 aces and only conceded eight points on serve as he brought Melzer's nine-match winning run in Vienna to an abrupt halt with a comprehensive 6-3 6-3 victory.

Top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was made to sweat before coming through his last-eight clash with Xavier Malisse. Tsonga enhanced his chances of qualifying for London by fighting back from a set down to win through 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 to set up a semi-final meeting with Daniel Brands, who dumped out fellow qualifier Steve Darcis 6-3 6-4.

Meanwhile, at the St Petersburg Open, second seed Janko Tipsarevic continued his impressive season by booking a semi-final showdown with Alex Bogomolov Jr after battling to a three-set victory over Potito Starace in two hours and 26 minutes. Bogomolov, the No. 7 seed, got the better of Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic for the second time in two weeks, converting five of 15 break point opportunities en route to a routine 6-2 6-1 triumph.

Fourth-seeded Marin Cilic showed what he is capable of when his serving gives him a platform as the Croat hammered down 13 aces on the way to a 4-6 7-6(8) 6-4 win over Andreas Seppi. Mikhail Youzhny, the fifth seed, made short work of Adrian Mannarino, completing a 6-2 6-3 victory.

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