Nalbandian, Nishikori roll through in Stockholm (1st Lead)

By Bill Scott Oct 10, 2008, 18:22 GMT

Stockholm - Argentine top seed David Nalbandian mowed down outclassed Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-1 at the Stockholm Open on Friday to line up against two-time finalist Jarkko Niemimen in the semi-finals.

Finland's third seed reached the last four with a 6-1, 6-4 dispatch of Spaniard Oscar Hernandez, revenge for a clay loss Nieminen took in Barcelona last spring.

Nieminen has lost Stockholm finals in 2001 and 2006 and is determined to try and remedy that as he plays his ninth Stockholm edition.

The 27-year-old now stand 14-8 at the tournament and levelled his 2008 record at 24-24 with the victory in less than 90 minutes.

Nalbandian, his mind focussed on the November 21-23 Davis Cup final at Mar del Plata against the Spain of Rafael Nadal, was untested by 46th-ranked Montanes.

Victory in 62 minutes was the third for the South American in the series with the Spaniard at the ATP level. He takes a 5-4 record against s Niemimen into their Saturday showdown.

Japan's Kei Nishikori shook off his own poor health to benefit with a free ride as opponent Mario Ancic was forced out by fever.

'I'm sick too, I've got a sore threat and cold and my knee hurts,' said the unseeded 77th-ranked teenaged walkover winner.

'But I wanted to play the match somehow. Now I've got a day to rest and I'm sure I can play tomorrow. It's the semi-finals, it's big for me.'

Nishikori will play either Swedish fourth seed Robin Soderling or number five German Rainer Schuettler.

Florida-based phenomenon Nishikori will be competing in his second semi-final of the season after winning a title last February in Delray Beach, Florida with an upset of James Blake.

Ancic has had health problems through out his career and suffered through a particularly bad 2007 as he came down with glandular fever.

After returning, he played intermittently and then missed much of this summer with more ill health.

Nishikori is the first Japanese contender on the ATP since Shuzo Matsuoka in the early 1990s. Nishikori caused a sensation as he played last week at home in Tokyo, losing in the third round of the Japan Open to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.