Seppi and Tomic reach semi-finals

Bernard Tomic faced defending champion Jarkko Nieminen on Thursday (10th January) in the quarter finals of the Sydney International.

The Australian made a slow start and his opponent took full advantage, opening out a commanding 5-2 first set lead.

Tomic battled back and forced the set into a tie-break but was unable to close it out, squandering two set points.

Nieminen duly forced his way back in, and captured the set 6-7(6).

A close second set unfolded with Tomic clearly buoyed by the vocal crowd.

He stepped up a gear, playing the key points well and took it 6-4 to take the match into a deciding set.

From there, he pushed on.

He broke Nieminen in the fourth game to lead 3-1 and never surrendered his advantage - a wayward serve from the defending Champion provided a disappointing end to the match.

Tomic's 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2 victory sees him reach a tournament semi-final for the first time since the Brisbane International 12 months ago.

Andreas Seppi took on Marcel Granollers in the next semi-final.

Granollers made the stronger start, breaking Seppi in his opening service game.

But the Italian broke straight back and grasped another break in the ninth game, to leave himself poised at 5-4 and serving for the set.

He did just that, firing down an ace on set point to win it 6-4.

With Granollers desperate to force his way back into contention, a tight second set unfolded.

But again it was Seppi who fared better on the key points.

He broke his Spanish opponent in the 11th game and powered through his final service game with a series of superb points to close out a 6-4 7-5 and set up a semi-final meeting with Tomic.