SHANGHAI, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Nikolay Davydenko Wednesday beat Gaston Gaudio, a 6-3, 6-4, to earn a spot in the semi-finals of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai.
Earlier in the round-robin event, Davydenko eliminated veteran Andre Agassi and is the highest seeded player remaining in his group (the Gold Group) because of injuries and withdrawals.
"This is a great chance for me," said the fifth-seeded Davydenko. "If you get a chance, you need to take it."
Agassi pulled out because of an ankle injury and Rafael Nadal withdrew before his scheduled match Monday because of a foot problem. Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin had previously withdrawn.
Mariano Puerta and Fernando Gonzalez replaced Nadal and Agassi. Gonzalez beat Puerta, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, Wednesday.
Gonzalez meets Gaudio in the semis. Ivan Ljubicic takes on David Nalbandian and two-time defending champion Roger Federer meets Guillermo Coria Thursday in the other quarter-finals.
