Poertschach Austria May 21-27

semifinal defeated by Gael Monfils 6-4 7-5

Gael Monfils of France will play Juan Monaco of Argentina in the Hypo Group International final on Saturday. In Friday's semifinals, Monfils upset fourth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 7-5 and Monaco defeated Luis Horna of Peru 6-4, 6-4.

"This is probably the best tennis I have ever played," said the 20-year-old Monfils, who beat Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals.

Monfils will aim for his second title in his fifth career final. Monaco is bidding for his second title after winning in February in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Monfils only needed one break of the fourth-seeded Australian's serve to take the first set. But the Frenchman needed to save three break points.

Hewitt rallied from 4-2 down to lead 5-4 in the second, but missed a set point when Monfils served an ace.

"For me, that was the decisive point in the match. I knew I would not lose it from there," Monfils said.

The 75th-ranked Monfils broke Hewitt again on 5-5 and converted his third match point with an ace.

Hewitt converted only two of his eight break points, but is looking forward to the French Open.

"Monfils played the big points better than I did," Hewitt said. "I didn't get much of a chance on most of my break points.

"It has been a good week for me anyway. I beat three good clay-court players relatively easily, which gives me a lot of confidence for Paris next week."

quarterfinal defeated Diego Hartfield 6-2 6-2

Lleyton Hewitt booked a final four spot at the Hypo Group International here today as his encouraging French Open build up continued.

The fourth-seeded Australian advanced after defeating Diego Hartfield of Argentina 6-2 6-2, and he will play French wildcard Gael Monfils in the semi-finals.

Hewitt broke Hartfield twice early to build a 3-0 lead in the first set.

"It was very important for me to start well and put him under immediate pressure," Hewitt said.

"I just wouldn't allow him to play his usual game."

Hartfield broke back once, but got hardly any chances in the service games of Hewitt, who ended the match with an ace on his first match point.

While Hewitt eased through, defending champion Nikolay Davydenko and second-seeded Andy Roddick both lost their quarter-final matches.

Andrea's photos

Rd 2 defeated Potito Starace 6-4 6-4

Lleyton Hewitt has maintained his promising French Open build-up by sweeping into the quarter-finals of an ATP clay tournament in Austria.

The fourth seed had little difficulty reaching the last eight on Wednesday, with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Italian qualifier Potito Starace at Poertschach.

Gearing up for the year's second grand slam in Paris next week, Hewitt will face Diego Hartfield for a place in the semi-finals after the Argentinian defeated American Vincent Spadea 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Hewitt broke Starace's service in the first game and dropped just four points on his own serve to comfortably win the first set.

In the second, the Australian managed an early break again but had to fight off three break points when serving for the match at 5-4. He finally converted his fifth match point as Starace put a forehand wide.

"I got off to a good start, breaking him straight away in the first set, and I also served well on the big points today," Hewitt said. "He has had his best results on this surface and beaten top players, so for me to come out and beat him quite convincingly is pretty good."

Andrea's photos

Rd 1 defeated Sergio Roitman 6-2 6-2

Hewitt faces a somewhat easier looking second round challenge from Italian qualifier Potito Starace after disposing of Roitman in another one-sided encounter.

It was Hewitt's first win at the tournament, following his first round exit to unfancied Brazilian Marcos Daniel, and further proof of his return to form after a year of persistent injuries and poor results.

"To get through the match injury-free is a start, win or lose," said Hewitt, a semi-finalist at last week's Masters Series tournament in Hamburg.

"I felt like I played a good match against a tough opponent and I am playing well at the moment. I guess a lot of people were ready to write me off after losing in the first round in Rome but people should know me better."

Andrea's photos Rd 1

thank you Andrea!