German sixth seed Benjamin Becker eased into the semi-finals on the San Jose Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over a listless Marat Safin of Russia on Friday.
The fourth-seeded Safin played well short of his best and world number 49 Becker took full advantage to set up a match against another giant-killer, Ivo Karlovic, who had earlier dispatched fifth seeded American Mary Fish 7-6, 6-4.
"I think I was a little too slow today," former world number one Safin told reporters.
"Maybe I had a bit of a problem with the timing because I played all my matches in the evening. Maybe it was a bit too early for me. I couldn't get into the match quickly enough."
Safin, the world number 24, won a five-set battle with Becker at the Australian Open last month, but made a stack of unforced errors in their latest meeting and could not even force a break point.
The German broke once to win the first set and again in the fourth game of the second, before serving out to love to reach his third ATP Tour semi-final and second this month.
"I think I played pretty well and I think he made a few more mistakes than he usually does," Becker said.
"I just tried to him play a lot, not going for too much, especially on his serve and it worked out."
FISH BATTERED
Karlovic followed up his victory over American second seed James Blake with a stunning exhibition of serving against Fish, the world number 25.
The unseeded Croat blasted 17 aces and dropped only 10 points on serve to leave Fish, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open last month, chasing shadows.
"After being injured for almost six months last year, I didn't expect to do this well, so I am very happy," Karlovic said.
"I think each match I am playing better and serving better."
The 6ft-10in Karlovic, ranked 103, won the first-set tiebreak 7-2 and broke Fish in the third game of the second set before going on to reach his third ATP Tour semi-final.
"It's basically a crap-shoot when you play him," Fish said. "It doesn't really feel like tennis.
"It's not often you play a match where you are excited to reach 40-30. He serves so well and you just don't know where it's going."
Later on Friday, top seed Andy Roddick and holder Andy Murray attempt to reach the last four.
Roddick plays fellow American Vince Spadea while Briton Murray takes on Lee Hyung-taik of South Korea.
