Defending champion Marcos Baghdatis bid goodbye to China Open on Friday after losing 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5-7) to Croatian veteran Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals.

The hard-hitting Croatian meets second-seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the semis. Gonzalez beat sixth-seed South Korean Lee Hyung-taik 7-5, 6-7 (7-5), 6-4 in two hours, 24 minutes.

Almost three weeks after his first round loss to Max Mirnyi in the US Open, Baghdatis, tried in vain to hang on the match after losing the crucial tiebreaker. Before Friday, the defending champion had won all his three matches against Ljubicic.

"I'm very disappointed to leave Beijing without winning the title," Baghdatis said. "I had so many chances, I broke him many times, but I just could not take advantage, and lost the match.

"My serve took me a lot of time to get into the match, and he was serving well, not missing any chances. I'd say my serve killed the match."

Earlier, Gonzalez booked his place in the rain-delayed tournament's semifinals. In fact, his match against Lee was interrupted three times by rain, with Gonzalez leading 3-0, 4-2 and 6-5 in the third set. The 27-year-old wrapped up his second career win over Lee five hours later.

Lee's win record drops to 4-24 against the world's top 10 players this year, while world No 7 Gonzalez has improved his to 27-17.

"It was really difficult as we stopped four times during the match," Gonzalez said. "I just went to the locker room and then came back, not knowing what would happen and when we would start again.

"The third set was very dangerous for me because he became better and better, and my second serve was not good in the last moment."

After being 0-4 during the summer hard-court season, Gonzalez seems to have got back his form this week, winning a tight three-setter against Alexander Peya before cruising through his second match against Paul Capdeville.

"I think I have the chance to win," he said. "I will continue to win... in Beijing. This is a nice place, and I feel I am a lucky man here."

(China Daily 09/15/2007 page8)