Hewitt reaches semifinals

BARCELONA, Spain, April 26 (UPI) -- Already having displayed his prowess on hard courts this season, Lleyton Hewitt of Australia again exhibited his increasing expertise on clay courts Friday.

Hewitt, the top seed, rolled into the semifinals of the Open Seat Godo 2002 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui, who captured the Casablanca claycourt title two weeks ago.

On Saturday, Hewitt will face Argentina's Gaston Gaudio, who cruised past Spain's Alberto Martin, 6-2, 6-4. In the other semifinal, No. 5 Guillermo Canas of Argentina will meet No. 15 Albert Costa of Spain, the 1997 champion.

After losing his opening match to eventual finalist Carlos Moya at last week's Tennis Masters Series claycourt event at Monte Carlo, Hewitt, who was the youngest player to finish a year ranked No. 1 in 2001, has reached the final four in his debut at the Royal Tennis Club of Barcelona.

"I think that my game suits clay pretty well," he said. "The last two rounds I played, (David) Nalbandian and El Ayanoui, who are very tough on this surface and won tournaments recently, and I beat them in straight sets."

Hewitt captured the San Jose and Indian Wells hardcourt titles earlier this year.

Gaudio beat Martin for the second time in as many career meetings. He also defeated the Spaniard on clay at the 1998 Lima event.

The Argentine is trying to make his first ATP final in more than a year, having been the runner-up at Vina del Mar in February 2001.

Canas set up the potential for an all-Argentine final with a 7-6 (7-6), 6-3 win over French qualifier Cedric Pioline.

"We are in the semifinals and anything could happen now," Canas said. "We will have very difficult rivals in the semifinals, but I would really like for my country to play the final against Gaston."

Canas is attempting to reach his second ATP final in three weeks after finishing as the runner-up at Casablanca.

Costa outdueled compatriot and seventh-seeded Alex Corretja, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4), to make the final four. He also reached the last eight at Monte Carlo last week.