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Ferrer sets up Dimitrov semi in Bastad

David Ferrer is hunting his fifth title of 2012 © Getty Images

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David Ferrer justified his top billing in Bastad as he booked his place in the SkiStar Swedish Open semi-finals with victory over fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo.

Ferrer, who is searching for a fifth title of 2012, claimed a 6-3 4-6 6-0 victory to set up an intriguing encounter with the highly-rated Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, a 7-6(1) 6-3 winner over Ferrer's compatriot Albert Ramos.

Second seed Nicolas Almagro was forced to work hard for his 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 victory over Daniel Gimeno-Traver, while Jan Hajek reached his ATP semi-final with a 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory over Jurgen Zopp.

Janko Tipsarevic was forced to save four match points as he came from behind to reach the semi-finals of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.

The top seed looked to be heading for defeat when Bjorn Phau served for the match at 6-5 in the second set, but the Serb rallied from 40-0 down to secure a 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 6-4 victory in a shade under three hours.

The world No. 8 will face Thomaz Bellucci in the last four after the Brazilian defeated home favourite Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-4 6-1.

In the bottom half of the draw, second seed Juan Monaco advanced with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Slovakian qualifier Pavol Cervenak. He will meet Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the semi-finals after the Spaniard raced past Germany's Dustin Brown 6-0 6-3 in under an hour.

At the Croatia Open, home favourite Marin Cilic remained on course for his third title on home soil as he eased past Wayne Odesnik 6-4 6-0. Standing between Cilic and a place in the final is defending champion Alexandr Dolgopolov, a 6-4 6-4 winner over Carlos Berlocq.

Fernando Verdasco saw off wild card Andrey Kuznetsov 6-2 6-2 to set up a semi-final clash with compatriot Marcel Granollers following the Spaniard's 1-6 6-3 7-5 win over Matthias Bachinger.

Elsewhere, at the Campbell's Hall of Fame Championships, top seed John Isner claimed a hard-fought 6-4 7-6(2) victory over qualifier Izak Van Der Merwe. Isner launched 12 aces to move into the semi-finals, where he will take on compatriot Ryan Harrison after he moved past Benjamin Becker, who retired injured.

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