Thomann gets first semifinal date with ATP

ASSOCIATED PRESS
INDIANAPOLIS -- Nicolas Thomann, who turned professional in 1996, reached his first ATP semifinal Friday, beating 14th-seeded Nicolas Kiefer at the RCA Championships.
The Frenchman's 7-6 (2), 7-5 quarterfinal victory sent him into today's semifinals at the Indianapolis Tennis Center along with top-seeded Andy Roddick and No. 3 Sjeng Schalken.
Thomann will play the winner of Friday night's late match between No. 2 Paradom Srichaphan and Scott Draper in the semifinals.
Roddick needed just 59 minutes to beat No. 9 Xavier Malisse, 6-4, 6-1, while Schalken rallied for a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over seventh-seeded Robby Ginepri.
Thomann, 30, hadn't been in an ATP quarterfinal since Basel 2000, and his career high ranking topped out at No. 125 in 2001.
His ATP ranking coming into the tournament was 169th. His only other ATP event this year was a first-round loss to Jurgen Melzer at Newport, R.I. In Challenger events this year, he went 3-8 since mid-April and reached the second round only twice.
Bank of the West Classic
STANFORD, Calif. -- Jelena Dokic was upset at the Bank of the West Classic on Friday, beaten by qualifier Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela 6-4, 6-3.
Kim Clijsters, seeded second, rallied to beat unseeded Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1, in another quarterfinal match.
Clijsters advanced to the semifinals and will face Francesca Schiavone, who beat Amy Frazier 7-6 (5), 6-3.