Berdych advances to Chennai semis

CHENNAI, India, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Tomas Berdych posted one of three straight-set wins Friday in quarterfinal play at the Chennai Open tennis tournament in India.

Berdych defeated Blaz Kavcic 6-3, 6-3 by getting five breaks in Kavcic's nine service games. He benefited from nine Kavcic double faults, which allowed Berdych to win more points (29-27) on Kavcic's serve.

Berdych's semifinal opponent Saturday will be third-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, who had the final match on Friday's schedule. That match was drawn out by a lengthy rain delay and lasted nearly two hours of actual playing time before Wawrinka claimed a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Robin Haase.

The other semifinal sends sixth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic against No. 7-seeded Xavier Malisse.

Malisse advanced with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Bjorn Phau. Malisse saved seven break-point chances but didn't drop a game in the first set and didn't face a break point in the second.

Tipsarevic was a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Kei Nishikori. Tipsarevic dropped serve once and won 70 percent of the points on serve.