BANGKOK, Thailand - Lleyton Hewitt withdrew because of a groin injury and Robby Ginepri lost in the quarterfinals Friday, eliminating the second- and third-seeded players from the Thailand Open.
Top-seeded Roger Federer, the defending champion, had no trouble in reaching the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. The Swiss star will face sixth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, who downed Taiwan's Wang Yeu-tzuoo 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-4.
Andy Murray, an 18-year-old Scotsman, upset Ginepri 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. He fired 11 aces in advancing to his first ATP semifinal. Murray will next face seventh-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan, the Thai star who made the semis when Hewitt withdrew.
Hewit said that while stretching during practice Friday he hurt his groin, which already was sore from his match the previous night against Justin Gilmelstob.
"I'm very disappointed for the fans and the tournament," Hewitt said.
Murray defeated fifth-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden on Thursday and was pleased with his performance against Ginepri.
"I attacked when I had to after the first serves. I played pretty much tougher," he said. "Winning against two top 50 players in a row is a big deal for me. To get my first semi is also great."
But Murray said beating Paradorn will not be easy.
"Paradorn is playing in front of his home crowd and he's a big star here," Murray said. "It's going to be a tough match for me."