Top seed Juan Martin del Potro and second-ranked Andy Murray were knocked out of the Rotterdam World Tennis event in quarter-final upsets on Friday by the same 6-3 6-4 scorelines.
Latvian Ernests Gulbis ended del Potro’s winning run when he beat the Argentine, while unseeded Croatian Marin Cilic won his eighth match in a row this season with Murray his latest victim.
The Scot was well off his game as he went out in 71 minutes, losing serve once in each set.
Third seed Tomas Berdych scored a 6-7 (9-11) 6-2 6-4 comeback over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz in almost two-and-a-half hours.
German Philipp Kohlschreiber and Dutchman Igor Sijsling, were lining up, with the winner to face Cilic, champion last week at home in Zagreb.
Gulbis, who can be brilliant or less than impressive depending on his mood, preyed on del Potro as the Argentine took treatment before the start of the second set on the left wrist which has been posing problems since the Australian Open.
Del Potro came to the match without being able to hit a penetrating backhand as he plays with medical permission while trying to clear up his wrist problem.
Gulbis will play his first semi-final at the event after advancing in 81 minutes with a dozen aces.
“If you let him play, he will play,” Gulbis said. “I don’t give any timing; I made him play bad. I concentrated on his backhand – we had a lot of long rallies.
“I played well at the right moments.
“I felt in control almost all the match, I was nervous in the last game but a good kind of nervous – I kept on playing well. Those are the kinds of nerves that I can handle.”
Del Potro said he has felt delicate all week but still believes his dodgy wrist is on the mend.
“My doctor is confident and I will keep on playing tournaments as long as the wrist does not get worse,” said the world No.4. “It’s getting better very slowly but it can be tough to remain optimistic all the time.
“When you are not at 100 per cent, you are thinking about your problems instead of your tennis. That’s what happening this week.
“He played a good match and deserved to win. He played a smart strategy against my backhand.”
Murray is still recovering fitness after autumn back surgery and has not looked comfortable all week.
“I had a slow start, but I did get three matches this week,” said Murray. “The body feels pretty good. I was a bit stiff this morning but I felt fine on the court.
“He served well and played a good match. I created opportunities but could not convert them. he took his chances and I didn’t make enough returns.
“I would have liked to have done better but I’m not frustrated. I’m striking the ball well.”
