Todd Martin: "Sometimes the opportunity to win gets better as the tournament goes on"

The American, seeded seventh, beat Dosedel 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a tightly fought match lasting two-and-a-half hours.

The 29-year-old Martin now moves into the semis for the second time in his career.

He enjoyed a dominating performance from the service line, hitting 22 aces and putting 74% of his first serves in play.

Fourth semi-final

The match came just two days after he battled the after-effects of stomach flu to beat Britain's Greg Rusedski in a five-set thriller.

The unseeded Cedric Pioline will meet Todd Martin next

Martin will now meet unseeded Frenchman Cedric Pioline, who earlier beat fifth seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil.

His victory, with three nail-biting tiebreakers, was sealed 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (16/14), 7-6 (10/8) in three hours and 22 minutes.

It is the fourth time he has reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.

Cedric Pioline: "Maybe I've been a little bit lucky"

He was a finalist at the US Open in 1993 and at Wimbledon in 1997.

Prettiest player

"He (Kuerten) played very good. He served very good. Maybe I've been lucky," said Pioline.

"I just try to be aggressive, just don't let him play, come in, then put pressure on his shoulder."

"Since the beginning of the year, I have a good tiebreaker record.

"I feel good when it's coming. I'm not afraid. I know I can win."

After his match Martin said of Pioline: "He's probably the prettiest player to watch on the tour, and I'm at the other end of the spectrum.

Experience and knowledge

"He has athleticism, big loopy strokes, and he's French. I'm athletic in my own special way, but nowhere near to the extent that he is."

The other semi-final will be contested between second-seeded Andre Agassi of the United States and Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, who is seeded third and the youngest amongst the four semi-finalists at the age of 25.

"It shows me that Kafelnikov is a little out of place," said Martin.

"Listen, if the older body is fit and healthy, I think it makes sense that there can be success at this age, because I think experience and knowledge and maybe a little bit more perspective than some of the other guys might actually help."