THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HALLE, Germany — Milos Raonic’s run at the Gerry Weber Open is over after Germany’s Philipp Petzschner downed the eighth-seeded Canadian 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 in quarter-final play Friday.
Petzschner will be joined by fellow Gernman Philipp Kohlschreiber in the semifinals after he eliminated defending champion Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Petzschner, the Wimbledon doubles champion from last year and semifinalist in Halle, broke Raonic’s first service game and held serve deep into the second set.
Petzschner failed to capitalize on a 5-2 lead in the second-set tiebreaker as Raonic, of Thornhill, Ont., took two service points off the German and won 8-6.
In the third set, Petzschner broke Raonic’s opening service game again and jumped to 3-0. German failed to convert three break points for 5-1 but won when Raonic’s backhand drop attempt went into the net after nearly two hours.
"I am very happy that I could repeat my success from last year," Petzschner said. "We’ll see what else is possible."
Petzschner will play either second-seeded Tomas Berdych or fifth-seeded Viktor Troicki in the semis.
It wasn’t all bad news for Raonic as he and partner Robin Haase of the Netherlands defeated Hewitt and fellow Australian Peter Luczak 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 10-5 later Friday to advance to the doubles final.
Hewitt, who won Halle last year on debut, will have been pleased to have played three single matches this week in his first tour action since March after foot and ankle injuries.
Kohlschreiber, the 2008 finalist, and Hewitt held serve in the first set, before the German picked up a mini break for a 4-2 lead in the tiebreaker and won it five points later.
Kohlschreiber secured the only break of the match for 5-3 and finished off Hewitt with an ace on his first match point.
"I couldn’t really do anything wrong today," said Kohlschreiber.
He will face either countryman and sixth seed Florian Mayer or third-seeded Gaels Monfils of France for a spot in Sunday’s final.