MIAMI, Feb 16: Top-seeded James Blake powered into the semi-finals of the 411,000-dollar Delray Beach International tournament here on Friday, but Japan’s Kei Nishikori made sure the final four weren’t an all-American affair.

Blake, 28, cruised past Russian Igor Kunitzyn 6-2, 6-4 to book a meeting with fellow American Robby Ginepri.

Blake, who is seeking his 11th career singles title, had two aces and capitalised on five double faults by Kunitzyn in the contest.

Ginepri ousted eighth-seeded fellow American Mardy Fish 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the quarter-finals.

Third-seeded Sam Querrey defeated sixth-seeded fellow American Vincent Spadea 6-2, 6-4. Querrey ended Spadea’s record 11th run in Delray Beach.

The 20-year-old Querry will face Japanese qualifier Nishikori, who defeated Bobby Reynolds 6-2, 6-4 to reach his first career ATP semi-final.

Friday’s results (x denotes seeding):

Quarter-finals: Kei Nishikori (JPN) bt Bobby Reynolds (US) 6-2, 6-4; Sam Querrey (US x3) bt Vincent Spadea (USA x6) 6-2, 6-4; Robby Ginepri (US) bt Mardy Fish (US x8) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4; James Blake (US x1) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-2, 6-4.

Thursday’s results:

Second round: James Blake (US x1) bt Paul Capdeville (CHL) 6-1, 6-4; 6-Vince Spadea (US) bt Gilles Muller (LXM) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) bt Max Mirnyi (BLR) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Sam Querrey (US x3) bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4; Kei Nishikori (JAP) bt Amer Delic (US) 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-2; Mardy Fish (US x8) bt Ivan Navarro (ESP) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3; Bobby Reynolds (US) bt Diego Hartfield (ARG) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3); Robby Ginepri (US) bt Michael Russell (US) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2.

MOYA SURVIVES

RIO DE JANEIRO: Top-seeded Carlos Moya rallied from 4-1 and two breaks down in the final set and Nicolas Lapentti saved three match points to reach the Brazil Open semi-finals on Friday.

Moya was in a big hole in his first match with fellow Spaniard Oscar Hernandez in their last set before he won four straight games to lead 5-4. Then it went with serve until Moya broke in the 12th game to end the 2 hour, 22 minute match.

Friday’s results:

Quarter-finals: Fabio Fognini (ITA) bt Ivo Minar (CZE) 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-3; Nicolas Almagro (ESP x2) bt Filippo Volandri (ITA x5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1; Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) bt Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4); Carlos Moya (ESP x1) bt Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Thursday’s results:

Second round: Eduardo Schwank (ARG) bt Peter Luczak (AUS) 6-2, 6-2; Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) bt Sebastian Decoud (ARG) 6-1, 6-2; Filippo Volandri (ITA x5) bt Guillermo Coria (ARG) 6-1, 6-2; Nicolas Almagro (ESP x2) bt Boris Pasanski (SRB) 6-2, 6-3.

HENIN IN SEMIS

ANTWERP (Belgium): Home favourite Justine Henin eased past Russian qualifier Alisa Kleybanova 6-4, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the WTA Diamond Games on Friday.

Friday’s results:

Quarter-finals: Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) bt Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x3) 6-2, 4-6, 4-1 (rtd); Karin Knapp (ITA) bt Patty Schnyder (SUI x4) 6-2, 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/2); Justine Henin (BEL x1) bt Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 6-4, 6-3; Li Na (CHN x9) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 7-5, 6-4.

Thursday’s results:

Second round: Justine Henin (BEL x1) bt Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-1; Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) bt Anna Chakvetadze (RUS x2) 6-3, 7-5; Timea Bacsinszky (SWI) bt Julie Ditty (US) 7-5, 6-4; Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) bt Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.

ANCIC BACK ON TRACK

MARSEILLE (France): Croatian Davis Cup winner Mario Ancic took another step forward in reigniting his career on Friday by reaching the Marseille ATP semi-finals.

Friday’s results:

Quarter-finals: Andy Murray (GBR x4) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 7-5, 7-6 (7/5); Mario Ancic (CRO) bt Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2; Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA x8) bt Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3, 6-4; Marcos Baghdatis (CYP x6) bt Mikhail Youzhny (RUS x3) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

Thursday’s results:

Second round: Marcos Baghdatis (CYP x6) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-4, 6-4; Robin Soderling (SWE) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x2) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3; Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 7-5, 6-3; Mario Ancic (CRO) bt Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-3, 6-2; Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA x8) bt Michael Llodra (FRA) 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5); Andy Murray (BRI x4) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (SWI) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.—Agencies