PORTSCHACH, Austria, May 25 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia Thursday advanced to the semifinals of the Hypo Group Tennis International Tennis Tournament in Austria.
The 2005 winner continued the defense of his title by beating unseeded Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo of Spain, 6-2, 6-4, in a rain-delayed match from Wednesday and then topped unseeded Potito Starace of Italy, 6-2, 6-1.
Unseeded Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic also had to win twice Thursday. He beat Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in a second-round match and Jurgen Melzer of Austria, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-4 in the quarters.
Also moving to the semis were seventh seed Luis Horna of Peru and unseeded Andrei Pavel of Romania.
In Friday's semis, Davydenko faces Novak and Horna goes against Pavel.
