Sydney, Australia – Former Australian Open runner-up Marcos seeded Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets in Thursday's quarterfinals at the $434,250 Sydney International tennis event, a final Aussie Open tuneup.
The unseeded Baghdatis, who titled here in Sydney two years ago, surprised the former U.S.Open champion del Potro in 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 fashion on the hardcourts at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. Baghdatis fired up 12 aces and broke del Potro's serve twice, while the big world No. 11 Argentine settled for seven aces and only one break.
Baghdatis' semifinal opponent on Friday will be Frenchman Julien Benneteau, who cruised past Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-2, 6-4.
Another seed exited the draw on Day 4, as Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin drove out No. 3 Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), as there are no seeds left heading into the final four.
Istomin will face Finnish veteran and fellow qualifier Jarkko Nieminen on Friday after Nieminen leveled American qualifier Bobby Reynolds, 6-3, 6-3.
The newest Sydney champion will earn $78,360.
