Ancic, Johansson through to semis at St. Petersburg

Third-seeded Croat Mario Ancic and defending champion Thomas Johansson from Sweden advanced to the semifinals at the St. Petersburg Open on Friday.

Ancic, who is vying for a place in next month's eight-man Masters Cup in Shanghai, edged big-serving Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-4, 7-5.

He broke Mirnyi at love in the ninth game of the first set. In the second set, Ancic broke Mirnyi in the 11th game to lead 6-5.

The Croat will meet Latvian teenager Ernest Gulbis, who reached the semifinals on his ATP debut. Gulbis outlasted Czech Jan Hernych 7-6, 6-7, 6-2 after nearly 2 hours and a half.

Johansson defeated Wesley Moodie of South Africa 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will face Russian Igor Kunitsyn, who topped Czech Potito Starace 6-3, 6-2.

Source: Xinhua