Benny toils as Paes blasts into semis

Benny toils as Paes blasts into semis

HIROSHIMA, Japan (Agencies): Indonesia's number one Benny Wijaya survived a heart-stopping thriller against South Korea's Shin Han-cheol for a semifinal berth in Asian Games men's singles tennis competition yesterday.

A serve-and-volleyer Benny bounced back from a set down to overcome never-say-die Shin 5-7, 6-4, 8-6. It was Benny's second straight win over the plucky South Korean whom he beat in their Davis Cup Asia Oceania qualifier on home soil last June.

Benny, making his Asian Games debut, will tackle China's number one Pan Bing who breezed past home favorite Yasufumi Yamamoto 6-2, 6-4.

Indonesia's second best Suwandi, as expected, had to end his dream of making appearance in the last four round, giving up to top seed Leander Paes of India 1-6, 0-6.

Paes, seeking for a unique hat trick of Asian Games tennis golds, also reached the doubles semifinals. Paes needed only 50 minutes to seal the match held over from Monday when rain washed out play.

The 18-year-old Suwandi, who lost to India's number two Asif Ismail in the team final, held his serve just once against the in-from top seed.

The 21-year-old Paes, former Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior champion who lifted India to the men's team title last week, also reached the doubles semifinals. He dropped just four games on his way to easy victories in both events.

Paes returned to court an hour later with Davis Cup partner Gaurav Natekar to brush aside Thailand's Narathorn Srichaphan and Vittaya Samrej 6-2, 6-1. The top-seeded Indian pair will meet Donny Susetio and Teddy Tanjung of Indonesia in the doubles.

Paes, who will play both semifinals today, said Monday's break had been invaluable.

"It helped me get some rest. But if I continue to win my singles matches as quickly as I did today, the doubles will not be a problem, because Gaurav is a great partner," he said.

Paes' semifinal singles opponent is sixth seed Yoon Yong-il of South Korea, who upset number four Oleg Ogorodov of Uzbekistan 6- 3, 7-5 in another quarterfinals.