Djokovic heads to Thailand Open semifinals

Bangkok -- World No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of the $576,000 Thailand Open with a straight-set victory Friday in Bangkok.

Djokovic survived a tightly contested match with sixth-seeded Robin Soderling, 6-4, 7-5. Djokovic fired nine aces in the match and, despite 12 aces from Soderling, broke his opponent's serve three times.

Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also used a big serve -- piling up 13 aces -- in a 6-3, 6-2 win over eighth-seeded Jurgen Melzer in Friday's quarterfinals.

The other quarterfinals saw third-seeded Tomas Berdych defeating Nicolas Mahut, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, and fourth-seeded Gael Monfils beating Philipp Petzschner, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.

Djokovic is paired against Berdych in Saturday's semifinals while Tsonga drew Monfils.

The 2008 Thailand Open champion will take home $94,000. The title match is set for Sunday.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.