Feliciano Lopez has his resilient serve to thank for a place in the last four of the Swiss Open in Gstaad.
The second seed powered down 12 aces and saved all five break points he faced on his way to a 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 triumph over eighth seed Santiago Giraldo.
Lopez has now beaten the Colombian both times he has faced him, although he admitted there was an element of good fortune on this occasion.
"I saved a few break points in the first set," Lopez told the ATP Tour. "I was struggling with my serve and I was lucky that I made it. After winning the first set, I thought I played better and better."
In-form third seed Dominic Thiem, who has won two ATP World Tour titles this season, now stands in the way of Spain's Lopez making the final.
Thiem, fresh from winning the Croatia Open last week, had a tough day himself as the Austrian needed three sets to see off Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4 3-6 6-2.
Thomaz Bellucci and top seed David Goffin will contest the other semi-final after they came through their respective matches on Friday.
Brazilian Bellucci came back from a set down to power his way past Pablo Andujar 3-6 6-4 6-1, while Goffin edged Joao Sousa in an epic clash 6-7 (7/9) 6-4 7-6 (7/1).
Source: PA
