KITZBUEHEL, Austria -- Jurgen Melzer rallied to defeat second-seeded Rainer Schuettler 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 Friday and reach the semifinals of the Austrian Open.
The sixth-seeded Austrian broke Schuettler's serve at 5-5 in the final set and converted his first match point on a backhand volley.
"I was moving horribly in the opening set, but I am glad how I fought my way back into the match," Melzer said. "I was well prepared coming here and have played some great tennis."
In the semifinals, Melzer will play fourth-seeded Potito Starace of Italy, who defeated No. 5 Eduardo Schwank of Argentina 6-1, 6-2.
The 61st-ranked Italian, who lost in last year's final to Juan Monaco, has conceded only 13 games in three matches so far.
Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina reached the semifinals by beating Nicolas Devilder of France 6-2, 6-3.
The seventh-seeded Del Potro, who won the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart last week, saved five break points and converted all three chances he got to crack Devilder's serve.
Victor Hanescu of Romania, who claimed the Swiss Open title last week, won 91 percent of the points on his first serve on his way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Brian Dabul of Argentina.
Earlier Friday, Schuettler rallied to beat Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. Hernych, who led 3-2 in the final set when rain suspended play Thursday, served for the match at 5-4, but Schuettler broke and closed out the match.
In the completion of other interrupted matches, Devilder beat Alexander Peya of Austria 6-4, 6-4, and Del Potro defeated Sergio Roitman 6-2, 6-4.
