Rios nears first title of 2002

PALERMO, , Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Top seed Marcelo Rios moved closer to his first title of the year with a thrilling three-set victory in Friday's quarterfinals of the International Championships of Sicily.

Rios overcame sixth seed David Sanchez of Spain, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), to advance to his third semifinal of the season. Sanchez owned a match point at 7-6 of the third-set tiebreak, but the Chilean won the final three points to beat the Spaniard for the second time in as many meetings.

Rios also produced semifinal finishes at the Tennis Masters Series event in Miami and the Washington hardcourt tournament.

Third seed Jose Acasuso of Argentina will take on Rios on Saturday after defeating Luis Horna of Peru, 7-5, 6-0.

"I started off pretty slow, but then I raised the level of my game," Acasuso said. "Then, after the first set, probably Horna lost his concentration. In the second set, I just played at an unbelievable level."

The 19-year-old Argentine has won 18 of his last 20 matches on clay, claiming his first ATP title at Sopot in July and appearing in the final at Bucharest earlier this month. He also captured a Challenger at San Martino.

"It's been quite a good summer for me," Acasuso said. "I had two goals for the year - to be in the top 50 and to win my first ATP event - and I have reached them both."

Second seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile will square off against unseeded Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic in Saturday's first semifinal.

Gonzalez topped seventh seed Alberto Martin, 6-2, 7-5, to move ahead of Rios in Monday's Entry System rankings to become Chile's top-ranked player for the first time.

The 22-year-old Gonzalez has not lost a set this week and has won 12 of his last 15 ATP matches, including appearances in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open and the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Series event in Cincinnati. He won his first career title in February at the Vina del Mar in his native country.

Ulihrach matched his best showing of the year with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 triumph over Sargis Sargsian of Armenia. He was a semifinalist at Doha in January. All three of his titles have come on clay.

"This match was like having a baby," said Ulihrach, who hopes to advance to his 10th career tour final. "When you're lacking confidence, it's quite difficult to finish off a match. Hopefully, now my confidence has come back a little bit."