James Blake bucks upset trend by beating Monaco

James Blake of the US returns a shot against Juan Monaco of Argentina during their US Men's Clay Court Championships quarter-final match on Friday in Houston, Texas. Blake defeated Monaco 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (0). PHOTO: AP

Second-seeded US player James Blake bucked the upset trend here on Friday, battling through to the semi-finals of the US Men's Clay Court Championships with a win over Juan Monaco.

After third-seeded German Tommy Haas and No. 5 Jurgen Melzer of Austria had bowed out with quarter-final losses, Blake held on for a 7-6 (7/5), 1-6, 7-6 (7/0) victory over eighth-seeded Monaco of Argentina.

Trading breaks

The two traded breaks of serve in the third set to go to the tiebreaker, when Blake took control and won the final seven points to close out the contest.

Blake, who has reached the semi-finals of this event for the first time, will try to reach his third ATP final of the year when he meets another Argentine, qualifier Mariano Zabaleta.

Zabaleta advanced to an ATP semi-final for the first time since 2005 with his 6-1, 6-2 victory over last year's runner-up Melzer.

Zabaleta also beat last year's champion Mardy Fish in the second round.

Knee injury

Zabaleta, currently ranked No. 156, missed nearly five months last year with a knee injury and he finished out of the top 100 for the first time since 1997.

Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who was also hampered by a knee injury last year, defeated world No. 10 Haas, needing just one break of serve to earn the 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 victory.

Karlovic next meets Albert Montanes of Spain, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over US player Vince Spadea.