Top seed Roger Federer struggled to defeat Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-5, 7-6 to reach the semi-finals of the World Indoor Tournament.
The Swiss, who is this week making his first appearance in the Dutch port city since he won the title in 2005, lacked rhythm against the unseeded Nieminen yesterday.
Former world number one Federer came back from 40-0 down in the 11th game to break serve on the indoor carpet and then had to rely on the tie-break to clinch victory in the second set.
Azarenka returns
Dubai: Victoria Azarenka admits that her bid to win two Middle East tournaments in as many weeks is an emotional one as the young Belarussian returns to Dubai where she nearly quit the game a year ago.
This time last year the 22-year-old from Minsk thought she would quit the women's tour after early defeats in Doha and Dubai. "My mum told me to come home and rest, and not be crazy about it,": she admitted. "And my gran pointed out there are things so much harder in life than tennis matches."
Roddick ousted
San Jose: Unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin upset American Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-4 to book a place in the last four of the San Jose Open on Friday. Hampered by an ankle injury, Roddick was second best against his 61st ranked opponent.
Roddick ousted
San Jose: Unseeded Uzbek Denis Istomin upset American Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-4 to book a place in the last four of the San Jose Open on Friday. Hampered by an ankle injury, Roddick was second best against his 61st ranked opponent.