Benjamin Becker defeated Daniel Brands 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the Thailand Open, posting his second victory in a month over his German compatriot.
Becker, ranked 65th to the 81 of Brands, defeated his countryman in the opening round of the US Open. Becker’s win was his tenth of the season against 15 defeats.
On Saturday he will clash with Finn Jarkko Nieminen, who booked into the third Bangkok semifinal of his career with an upset of Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Becker and Brands both knocked out seeds this week, Becker defeating number two Fernando Verdasco and Brands upsetting number six Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker.
Brands was playing in his first ATP quarterfinal of the season while Becker has moved into his third semifinal in 2010 after a pair on grass in June.
