Davydenko Ousts Cilic; Mayer, Petzschner Set All-German SF

© Matthias HuberPhilipp Petzschner is through to the Munich semi-finals for the second straight year.

Former World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko closed in on his second ATP World Tour final of the season on Friday as he dismissed 2010 runner-up Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the BMW Open in Munich.

The seventh-seeded Russian, who finished runner-up in Doha (l. to Federer) in the first week of the season, saved six of the seven break points he faced and converted three of his opportunities to seal victory in one hour and 49 minutes.

"In the beginning it was difficult because he had set points and maybe I was a little bit lucky to break back," admitted Davydenko. "It was a pretty tough match because I know Cilic plays good, he played the final here last year, so it was not easy."

The 29-year-old Davydenko, who has struggled for a return to top form since fracturing his left wrist in February 2010, is looking to reach the Munich final for the second time. He won the third of his 20 ATP World Tour titles at the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tournament in 2004 (d. Verkerk).

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In the semi-finals Davydenko will face Czech Radek Stepanek, who dealt a harsh exit to 2007 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber as he defeated the German 6-4, 6-0 in 74 minutes. The 32-year-old Stepanek, who also reached the Munich semi-finals in 2002, broke serve five times from the seven opportunities he created and saved four of five break points.

Former World No. 8 Stepanek is through to his second ATP World Tour semi-final of the season. He reached the last four in Brisbane (l. to Soderling) in the first week of the year, but since then had failed to win back-to-back matches in eight tournaments.

"It feels great to be further in a tournament again and to play the weekend matches," said Stepanek. "It’s always exciting and especially here in Munich. I have good memories here and always enjoy playing here."

Fifth-seeded German Florian Mayer advanced to the semi-finals as he ended the campaign of Bulgarian teenager Grigor Dimitrov with a 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4 victory. The 19-year-old Dimitrov had saved two match points to beat Marcos Baghdatis and reach his first ATP World Tour quarter-final, but he came unstuck against the No. 35-ranked Mayer, who capitalised on three of his 12 break point chances to claim victory in two hours and 22 minutes.

"It was a really tough match and a really good match. I think Dimitrov played really tough and I was just the lucky man today who won," reflected Mayer. "He's 19 years old and he has a really good serve, forehand and backhand; I think he will be in the Top 20 very soon."

The 27-year-old Mayer, who had never won a match in his three previous visits to Munich, is through to his third ATP World Tour semi-final of the season. He goes on to face fellow German Philipp Petzschner, who needed two tie-breaks to overcome Italy’s Potito Starace 7-6(3), 7-6(6) in one hour and 46 minutes.

World No. 76 Petzschner is through to the semi-finals in Munich for the second year in a row, having fallen at that stage last year to Mikhail Youzhny. The right-hander is bidding to reach his second career ATP World Tour singles final.