Fognini, Kohlschreiber advance to semis

Fabio Fognini and Philipp Kohlschreiber have both reached their second semi-final in as many weeks at the Austrian Open.

Fognini, who won his fifth career title in Gstaad, Switzerland on Sunday, received medical treatment for a lower back injury early in the opening set but eased past Thomaz Bellucci 6-3 6-1. The Brazilian won just one of his eight service games.

The third-seeded Italian plays former champion Kohlschreiber for a place in Saturday’s final of the last clay court event of the season.

The German took the last five points of a third-set tiebreaker to outlast Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5). Last week, Kohlschreiber pulled out of his semi-final in Hamburg with a thigh injury.

Sebastian Ofner of Austria, ranked No.157, reached his maiden semifinal by defeating Renzo Olivo of Argentina 6-3 1-6 6-3. The wildcard entrant will next play Joao Sousa of Portugal, who rallied to beat Gerald Melzer of Austria 2-6 6-1 6-3 in a match interrupted by rain.

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