Safin in St. Petersburg semifinals

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Two-time winner Marat Safin beat Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin in straight sets Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia.

The unseeded Safin, a former world No. 1 who is retiring at season's end, beat Istomin 6-0, 7-6 (7-4), and advanced to a tournament's round of four for the first time since the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.

"Serving for the match, I lost my serve completely," Safin said. "I won a lottery basically."

Elsewhere, Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky beat German Bjorn Phau 6-2, 7-5; Russia's Igor Kunitsyn knocked off second-seeded Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6); and Argentine Horacio Zeballos was a 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 winner over Latvia's Ernests Gulbis.

Saturday's semis are Safin-Stakhovsky and Kunitsyn-Zeballos.

A $115,150 check awaits Sunday's champion.