Associated Press

Comment

Cilic defeated 2004 champion Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-1, 6-4 for his fourth semifinal of the season. He 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 reached his third semifinal of the season after breaking Stepanek twice in each set in front of a home crowd of 7,000.

"His game suits me quite well and I just didn't make any mistakes," Melzer said.

His next opponent, Tipsarevic, 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 in the decider.

It's the Serb's second semifinals in two weeks, after reaching the Moscow final last weekend. Tipsarevic beat Melzer in their only previous meeting in Miami in April.

"I like to play indoors," Tipsarevic said. "I think it's a 50-50 match (against Melzer). Maybe he is slightly favorite because of the crowd."

Kohlschreiber saved three break points early against Almagro and served flawlessly afterward. He finished the match with his eighth ace to return to 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."