AMERSFOORT, Netherlands, July 20 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Spaniard Albert Costa avenged a loss and second seed Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina ended the run of a qualifier in Saturday's semifinals of the $381,000 Energis Open claycourt tournament.
Costa needed three sets for the third time in four matches, posting a 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3 victory over third seed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina.
The 27-year-old Costa needed three sets to win in the first two rounds, but posted a straight-sets win over Brazilian Andre Sa in the quarterfinals Friday, despite playing with a small infection in his left eye.
Costa is seeking his second title this season and 13th of his career. He lost to Gaudio in the final of the Open Seat Godo in April and defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero to win the French Open in June. Costa skipped Wimbledon and was upset in the first round at Gstaad last week by qualifier Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.
Chela, who suffered three straight first-round losses before beating Sweden's Andreas Vinciguerra on Monday, got past Dutchman John Van Lottum, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The 22-year-old Chela improved to 32-18 this season and is seeking his second career title. He lost in the final at Sydney to Roger Federer in January.
Van Lottum reached the semifinals of an ATP event for the first time since Chennai in April 1999. He had played in only one other ATP tournament this season, losing to Federer in the first round at Rotterdam.
