Johansson closes on second title

Johansson won the St Petersburg title in 1997 and 2005

Defending champion Thomas Johansson moved into the last four of the St Petersburg Open with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over South Africa's Wesley Moodie.

Johansson broke Moodie in the fourth game of the final set before serving out the match in one hour 42 minutes.

He next faces wildcard Igor Kunitsyn, who beat Potito Starace 6-3 6-2.

Third seed Mario Ancic won the battle of the big-servers 6-4 7-5 against Max Mirnyi, while Ernest Gulbis beat Jan Hernych 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2.

I wouldn't count myself out to win here once more Thomas Johansson

Latvian teenager Gulbis is ranked 204 and will play his first ATP semi-final on Saturday.

"I had to adjust myself to playing on centre court," said the 18-year-old from Riga. "It's not often that I get a chance to play on a big stage like this."

Johansson, who won the event in 1997 and 2005, said: "I feel like I'm playing well right now and I have good memories from playing here, so I wouldn't count myself out to win here once more."