• Delray Beach International

Karlovic lines up Fish semi at Delray

ESPN staff
February 26, 2010
Mardy Fish, pictured here in Australia, awaits Ivo Karlovic © Getty Images
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Ivo Karlovic withstood a fightback from home favourite James Blake to win 6-3 6-7 6-1 and secure a semi-final berth at the Delray Beach International.

Karlovic sent down an astounding 23 aces and conceded just one break point - which he saved - in the entire match. That sort of serving form, which won him 90% of points when his first effort went in, meant Blake's most likely avenue was through tie-breaks.

The 50-ranked player forced and won one of those, but it wasn't enough to keep Karlovic from setting up a semi with another American in Mardy Fish. Fish upset Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-3 in just over an hour - by far the shortest quarter-final.

Despite giving up 32 ranks and five years of age to Chardy, Fish had no troubles at all and stays on track to perhaps win his fourth career title.

Earlier, Finland's Jarkko Nieminen was the first man through to the semi-finals after sending third seed Benjamin Becker tumbling out.

In a tense semi-final, Niemenen saved seven break points as he overcame the big-serving German 7-5 3-6 7-6(5). The world No. 109 will now play Latvian Ernests Gulbis who beat Leonardo Mayer in straight sets.

Gulbis, who reached the semi-finals in Memphis last week, won the opening-set tie-break before breaking Mayer's serve late in the second set to move into the semi-finals with a 7-6(2) 6-4 victory.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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