MONTPELLIER, France (AP) — Sixth-seeded Albert Montanes of Spain rallied from a set and break down to beat top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) in the quarterfinals of the Open Sud de France on Friday.
Montanes won on his third match point when Davydenko’s weak backhand return hit the net. The Spaniard will play either fourth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic or Jarkko Nieminen in his first career indoor semifinal.
Davydenko’s seventh ace gave him the opening set and he looked in total control when he broke for a 2-0 lead in the second with a superb crosscourt winner.
But a sloppy sixth game ended with Davydenko’s two-handed backhand into the net, allowing Montanes to pull even at 3-3.
