THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VIENNA, Austria -- Top-seeded Marin Cilic reached the semifinals of the BA Tennis Trophy on Friday but second-seeded Radek Stepanek and third-seeded Gael Monfils lost their quarter-final matches.
Cilic defeated 2004 champion Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-1, 6-4 and next plays No. 4 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, who beat No. 5 Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-5, 6-4.
Austria's Jurgen Melzer routed Stepanek 6-2, 6-2, and Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia defeated Monfils 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3.
Cilic managed an early break when Lopez fell behind the baseline on break point in the second game. The sixth-seeded Spaniard needed treatment on his left knee and looked hampered for the rest of the opening set.
"The first two games were crucial," Cilic said. "I played well from the baseline but could have served a bit better."
Cilic used one of his four break chances in the second to wrap up the victory. The Croat has a slim chance of qualifying for next month's ATP World Tour Finals in London.
"It's in the back of my mind as I have a chance to be there," Cilic said. "I am a little behind the other guys, but I think I am playing well and I prepared well for the end of the season."
Melzer broke Stepanek twice in each set before a home crowd of 7,000.
"His game suits me quite well and I just didn't make any mistakes," Melzer said.
He will play Tipsarevic, who missed a match point in the second-set tiebreaker against Monfils but closed out the match with a forehand volley on his second match point.
The Serb reached the Moscow final last weekend and has beaten Melzer in their only previous meeting, in Miami in April.
Kohlschreiber saved three break points early against Almagro and served flawlessly afterward. He finished the match with his eighth ace to gain the Vienna semifinals for the second straight year.
"I am serving really well and I am very focussed," Kohlschreiber said.
Kohlschreiber is 3-1 against Cilic, whose only win over the German came on Munich clay in May.
"Cilic has had a great season, has made big steps forward," Kohlschreiber said. "The match will be tight and it depends on the form of the day."
