Sam Querrey in action at Farmers Classic

Top seed Andy Murray, second seed Sam Querrey and fourth seed Feliciano Lopez all reached the semifinals, but third seeded Marcos Baghdatis could not escape tenacious Janko Tipsarevic. Tipsarevic had difficulty holding serve but was able to break Baghdatis at key points of the 6-3, 7-5 match.

After capturing his fist break in the eighth game of the first set, the Serb calmly served out the set. Baghdatis claimed the first break in the second set, but Janko answered immediately. In the eleventh game, Tipsarevic mixed his shots and caught Baghdatis deep in the court on two occasions to open the door to the key break. This time, he made the break stick by serving out the final game.

Tipsarevic will face second seeded Sam Querrey, the defending champion, who had to survive to a stern challenge from German Rainer Schuettler to notch the 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (4) win. Schuettler was unable to convert on six break points before he finally blazed a forehand winner past Querrey to claim the eighth game of the second set.

In the third set, Schuettler seemed in control as he broke to go up 5-4 only to have Querrey play a brilliant game and break back. The German then broke again to go up 6-5 and again Querrey had the answers. In the tiebreak, Querrey jumped ahead 2-1 and never looked back. Querrey will be heavily favored over Tipsarevic.

Feliciano Lopez, the fourth seed, survived when he had to and surged ahead at the last turn against American underdog James Blake. Lopez was outplayed in the first set but gradually wore Blake down in the 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 win. Blake has shown renewed vigor since using an anti-inflammatory to soothe his aching knees.

Lopez fired 18 aces but only had two break points, which he won. Blake only converted 2 of 8 break chances. Blake skipped the clay season to rehabilitate his knees and his level of play looks improved.

Top seed withstood a first set surge from Colombian Alejandro Falla before running off the last six games of the match to win 7-6 (3), 6-1. Falla had two set points in the first set but Murray was able to fight them off before taking charge of the tiebreaker. Murray and Lopez will go at each other this evening in Los Angeles.

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