Verkerk reaches semis; top-seed falls

MUNICH, Germany, April 30 (UPI) -- Martin Verkerk, Olivier Rochus, Nikolay Davydenko and Luis Horna reached the semifinals Friday in the BMW Open in Germany.

The fourth-seeded Verkerk, of the Netherlands, beat Swiss qualifier Michel Kratochvil 6-3, 7-6 (7-0).

Verkerk will play Rochus, of Belgium, who eliminated another qualifier, German Alexander Waske, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Davydenko, a Russian who lives in Germany, moved into the semis by knocking out the tournament's top seed, Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).

"I controlled the ball well and he couldn't attack me," Davydenko said. "It was a good match for me."

Davydenko will play Peruvian Horna, who advanced with a 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-2) win over Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.