Impressive Podlipnik marches into semi-finals

In-form Hans Podlipnik moved into the semi-finals of the Santiago Challenger with a battling victory against Argentina´s Eduardo Schwank (331).
Las Condes – Podlipnik had beaten top seed Denis Kudla to reach the last eight and proved that was no flash in the pan with another hard-fought victory.
Podlipnik (251), set to take over as Chile´s number one, lost the first set 7-5, but then won the second set by the same score to level the match. The Chilean then proved the stronger in the deciding set, taking it 6-3, in a match that lasted almost two-and-a-half hours.
The victory has guaranteed Podlipnik at least US $2,010 in prize money and 29 valuable ranking points.
Now the 26-year-old will be aiming to reach the final tomorrow. However, he faces a tough task against the man who has been the scourge of Chileans so far, James Duckworth (158).
The Australian fifth seed has already knocked out Gonzalo Lama and Capdeville. In the quarter-finals, Duckworth brushed aside Argentina´s Federico Coria 6-1, 6-4 to book his semi-final place.
Ireland´s Louk Sorensen is through to the other semi-final after a 6-4, 6-2 victory against American Wayne Odesnik, the fourth seed.
He will meet either Holland´s Thiemo de Bakker or Argentinian second seed Facundo Arguello in the other semi-final at Club Palestino.

Tags: Gonzalo Lama, Hans Podlipnik, Paul Capdeville, Santiago Challenger, tennis