Top seed Dominic Thiem reached his third semi-final in as many weeks after his opponent Albert Montanes of Spain pulled out injured at the Generali Open on Thursday.
Thiem led 7-6 (7/3), 3-2 when Montanes, who received medical treatment on his left ankle in the opening set, quit their quarter-final.
Coming off back-to-back tournament wins in Umag and Gstaad, the Austrian world No. 21 is unbeaten for 10 straight matches. He next takes on Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, while French qualifier Paul-Henri Mathieu and Nicolas Almagro of Spain are to contest the other semi-final.
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“I feel sorry for Albert and for the fans, but I am happy,” Thiem said.
He missed a set point at 5-4 in the opening set, before dominating the tiebreaker. He was a break up in the second set when Montanes withdrew.
Kohlschreiber defeated third seed Fabio Fognini of Italy 7-6 (7/0), 6-4 to advance to his second semi-final of the season after reaching the final in Munich, Germany, in May.
World No. 39 Kohlschreiber, seeded sixth, saved two set points in the opening set, before winning 16 of the first 20 points for a 4-0 lead in the second.
Mathieu advanced to his first semi-final of the year by beating Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, while Almagro defeated Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4.
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