Cilic advances to Zagreb semifinals

ZAGREB, Croatia, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Defending champion Marin Cilic beat fellow Croat Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4 Friday in a quarterfinal match at the Zagreb (Croatia) Indoors Tennis Tournament.

Cilic, the event's top seed, won the match by overcoming 24 service aces by the 6-foot-10 Karlovic.

His semifinal opponent Saturday, third-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria, rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 decision against Ukrainian Illya Marchenko.

Elsewhere, Germany's Michael Berrer ousted fourth-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-4, 6-3, while Germany's Philipp Petzschner had to rally before a 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-2 victory against Slovakian Lukas Lacko.

Berrer and Petzschner meet in the other semifinal, and Sunday's champion will collect a $95,500 winner's check.