Robin Soderling remained on course to retain the ATP 500 World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam with a straight-sets victory over Mikhail Youzhny on Friday.
He tackles Serb Viktor Troicki in the semi-finals after he upset the odds with a win over Croat Marin Cilic. But Soderling, of course, is the champion and it's difficult to see the world No.4 being stopped now, even if the pair have yet to meet competitively.
The Swede is 2-5 with Skybet, Victor Chandler, Bluesquare and 888sport while fast-improving world No.24 Troicki is 2-1 with Bet365, Skybet, Boylesports, Betfred, Paddy Power and Stan James.
The winner will play either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Ivan Ljubicic who meet in the first semi-final.
Frenchman Tsonga is the favourite for this one (8-15, Boylesports, Sportingbet, William Hill) despite trailing Ljubicic 2-1 on their head-to-head record.
Croatian Ljubicic (11-8, Sportingbet) prevailed in a tough three-setter with Marcos Baghdatis on Friday while Tsonga enjoyed the benefit off a rare day off after Czech Tomas Berdych withdrew through illness.
The extra rest is perhaps edging Tsonga into the favourite slot but I reckon this match will go the distance again with world No.15 Ljubicic reaching the final.
In December 2020 we sadly 
