Zagreb, Croatia – Third-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny fought quarterfinal winner Friday at the Zagreb Indoors tennis tournament.
Youzhny needed 2 hours, 42 minutes to stave off eighth-seeded massive-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (12-10), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6). The 6-foot-10 Karlovic swatted 22 aces in a losing effort.
Up next for Youzhny will be last year's Zagreb runner-up Michael Berrer, who moved within one victory of his second straight trip to the final here with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 come-from-behind win over Austrian and fellow left-hander Jurgen Melzer.
Berrer lost to Croatia's Ivan Dodig in last year's finale.
In other quarterfinal action at Dom Sportova, Slovakian Lukas Lacko took out seventh-seeded Dutchman Robin Haase 6-4, 6-4.
The final match on Friday currently pits a fourth-seeded Dodig against 2007 Zagreb champion Marcos Baghdatis, this week's sixth seed.
The 2012 Zagreb champion will collect $90,000.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.