Ferrero through to semi-finals

Juan Carlos Ferrero snatched the last place in the Masters Cup semi-finals with a 7-6, 7-6 win over Goran Ivanisevic on Friday.

The Spanish world number four won both tie-breakers to finish second in his pool behind Yevgeny Kafelnikov and set up a semi-final meeting with Lleyton Hewitt.

Kafelnikov was already assured of his place in the semis but left nothing to chance as he beat an ailing Gustavo Kuerten 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in an earlier match.

Kuerten's loss opened the door for Hewitt to finish the year ranked number one in the world by beating fellow Australian Patrick Rafter in the final round-robin match on Friday.

But even if Hewitt loses to Rafter, the 20-year-old still has another chance to finish No. 1 by beating Ferrero on Saturday.

Kuerten, already out of the running to make the semifinals in the season-ending event, needed to beat fifth-seed Kafelnikov to put any pressure on Hewitt's bid to become the youngest man in history to finish the year as No 1.

CRISP VOLLEYS

But the Brazilian was unable to find a way past Kafelnikov, who continually frustrated him with his accurate groundstrokes and crisp volleys.

"I don't feel disappointed, I had a great year," Kuerten said.

"I was having a lot of problems with my leg and it was tough for me to play but I gave it my best."

Kuerten began well, breaking Kafelnikov's opening service game, but proceeded to lose the next 17 points in a row as the Russian raced through the first set in just 21 minutes.

Down on his confidence, Kuerten was also having problems with his groin and needed medical treatment on two occasions in the second set.

"I did not expect Gustavo to play so poorly in the first set, but I think the injury must have had something to with that," Kafelnikov said.

"But as the match went on he became looser and looser and he got some treatment so it got very interesting."

Kuerten defied his obvious discomfort to break Kafelnikov's serve and hold his own to pinch the second set before Kafelnikov reasserted his control in the final set to clinch victory after an hour and 37 minutes.

Kafelnikov, who won the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics just a short stroll from the SuperDome, faces Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in Saturday's semi-finals.

"The first stage is over but I think that is where the tournament starts," Kafelnikov said.

"I have to approach the next match like nothing's happened in the previous three matches.

"I believe I can play very well in the next two matches because I still have enough energy."

Ferrero needed two hours before finally wearing down Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic in an entertaining match that could have gone either way.

Ivanisevic saved five match points in the 10th game of the second set to force another tiebreaker but the Spaniard held his nerve on the big points to secure his place in the semis.