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Top-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian will meet two-time former finalist and No. 3 seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland for the 10th time on Saturday in the If Stockholm Open semifinals. Nalbandian vs Nieminen: Head-to-Head Record

Nalbandian, who started the week at No. 26 in the ATP 2008 Race – 114 points behind No. 8-placed James Blake of the United States, improved to 32-13 on the season (12-5 on hard courts) following a 6-4, 6-1 win in 63 minutes over Albert Montanes of Spain in the first match of the night session. Nalbandian can earn 40 points to his ATP 2008 Race tally should he capture his ninth ATP title (8-8 record) on Sunday. The 26-year-old won the Buenos Aires title (d. Acasuso) and finished runner-up in Acapulco (l. to Almagro) in February.

Nieminen (pictured) secured his place in the Stockholm semifinals for a third time after dismissing Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-4 on Friday. The left-hander converted five of seven break points in total during the 82-minute encounter. The 2001 (l. to Schalken) and 2006 (l. to Blake) runner-up improved to a 14-8 record at the indoor event. Earlier this season, the World No. 33 Nieminen advanced to the final at Adelaide (l. to Llodra) and his first quarterfinal at the Australian Open (l. to Nadal) in January. He will attempt to reach his ninth ATP final (1-7 record) in the semifinals on Saturday.

Japanese wild card Kei Nishikori was granted a place in his second ATP semifinal of the season without having to strike a ball, as his second-seeded opponent, Mario Ancic of Croatia, withdrew prior to the match with acute bronchitis with fever. Coming into Stockholm, the 24-year-old Ancic had been limited to just two ATP main draw appearances since reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals, sidelined due to a recurrence of glandular fever.

The 18-year-old Nishikori, who captured his maiden ATP title at Delray Beach in February (d. No. 12 Blake), will face Robin Soderling for the first time.

The Swedish No. 4 seed improved to 11-5 in Stockholm after knocking out fifth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 7-5 in 74 minutes. Soderling struck 13 aces, winning 28 of 33 points on first serve in the pair’s fifth meeting. The 24-year-old top Swede, who reached the 2003 final (l. to Fish), will be attempting to reach his eighth career ATP final on Saturday (2-5 mark). Earlier this year he reached back-to-back finals in Rotterdam (l. to Llodra) and Memphis (l. to Darcis). The 32-year-old Schuettler, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals (l. to Nadal) in July, dropped to 19-20 on the season (10-11 on hard courts).

Thursday: Nalbandian Ousts Johansson; Ancic, Nishikori To Meet
Wednesday: Soderling Wins Opener; Two-Time Champ Johansson Falls
Tuesday: Bjorkman Plays Final Singles Match
Tuesday: Bjorkman Bows Out; Nalbandian, Ancic Make Strong Starts
Monday: Nishikori Upsets Eighth Seed; Hrbaty & Lapentti Progress
Joachim Johansson To Make Professional Return

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