This is  a bit of a surprise.  del Potro already in the semifinals!

Although Lleyton Hewitt is not quite the number 1 player he was a decade ago, he is still a guy that fights.  But the one part of del Potro’s game that contributed to his rise to the top 5 is also the part of his game that came back the soonest: his serve.  And Delpo was dominant on serve.  6-2, 6-3 win to Delpo.

Gael Monfils had to work hard to beat unheralded American, Tim Smyczek, 6-4, 7-6.  This might mean there’s a new American talent waiting to break through (admittedly, at the age of 23).  Verdasco may be getting back to his winning ways in a tournament he’s had good success at.  He won over Istomin 4 and 4.

In the “up and coming” category, hard-serving Milos Raonic beat Richard Berankis of Lithuania, 6-4, 7-6.  Both players made a splash at the Aussie Open, though both lost to eventual semifinalist, David Ferrer.

Up next for Monfils is Milos Raonic, while Delpo faces Verdasco in the other semis.

Exciting matches abounded at Rotterdam.  Top seed, Robin Soderling, beat last year’s finalist, Mikhail Youzhny in two close sets, 6-4, 7-6.  Tsonga didn’t even have to play Berdych who withdrew due to flu.  Ljubicic had to work hard to beat his Cypriot opponent, Marcos Baghdatis, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6.  Troicki beat Cilic 6-4, 7-6.

This sets up Soderling and Troicki in one semis and Tsonga and Ljubicic in the other.

Finally, Almagro beat veteran Chela, while Dolgopolov beat local Ricardo Mello.  The two will meet in the final of the Brasil Open.