Safin falls but Haas powers through in Toronto
Steve Keating
Second seed Marat Safin crashed out of the $2.95 million Canada Tennis Masters when he lost 7-5, 6-3 to Argentine Guillermo Canas on Friday, leaving Germany's resurgent Tommy Haas as the highest remaining seed.
Haas, seeded third, continued his stunning return to form by battling past Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the event for the second successive year.
Distracted by a near fatal motorcycle accident involving his parents in early June, Haas arrived in Toronto having not won a match since the French Open.
But the 24-year-old has produced a remarkable turnaround on the Canadian hardcourts and will now face the unseeded Canas, who has pulled off a few surprises of his own with back-to-back wins over Safin and fifth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
The other semi-final pits 12th-seeded American Andy Roddick against 14th seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic.
Roddick made his first appearance on centre court at the National Tennis Centre a brief one, disposing of Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian of Argentina 6-3, 6-2, while Novak eased past Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 7-5, 6-3.
Chasing world number one Lleyton Hewitt for the top spot in the rankings, Safin missed an opportunity to gain ground on the Australian, who stumbled out in the first round.
With the first set heading towards a tie-break, Canas produced a cheeky drop shot that just cleared the net cord to give him a break of serve and the set.
As courtside temperatures once again soared above 40 degrees Celsius, Safin's composure wilted when Canas recorded an early break in the second to take a 3-1 lead.
ARGUED CALLS
As the set progressed the big Russian's frustration was clearly evident to a packed centre court crowd as he slammed his racket onto the ground, swiped at balls, stared down linesmen and argued calls with the umpire.
"He played great tennis and I was just missing my opportunities all over the court," said Safin. "I can't explain how frustrated I am right now.
"I am so upset right now I cannot describe it. I was so close to winning this match. It could actually have gone the other way.
"But when he won the first set I felt like I was losing it...like a train running away and I could not jump on it," added Safin after his eight-match winning streak on the Toronto hardcourts came to an end.
After missing six weeks to be with his parents while they recovered from their injuries, 24-year-old Haas rejoined the circuit last week in Los Angeles, losing in the opening round of the Mercedes-Benz Cup to American qualifier Alex Bogomolov.
But the German's play has steadily improved with each match and it has carried him into his fifth career Masters Series semi-final.
"I'm really happy, every match I have improved," said Haas, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last month. "Every match here has been a bonus."
