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Unseeded Schuettler sets up semi-final clash with Nadal

03/07/2008

German Rainer Schuettler has reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon after a gruelling 6-3 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (7-9) 8-6 win over Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

The last of the men's quarter-finals was scheduled to be played yesterday, but the players were only able to play the first two sets due to rain.

When both men walked out on court today, neither probably expected to be part of a match which lasted a mammoth five hours and 12 minutes – the second longest men's singles match in Wimbledon history.

Schuettler was relieved to take the third set 8-6 on the tie-break after he blew a 6-0 lead to allow Clement to come back to 6-6.

The unseeded German then lost the fourth set on a tie-break to set up a winner-takes-all fifth and final set.

Clement broke and to gain the initiative, but he gave it away soon after as he lost his serve. The Frenchman had a match point at 5-4 when Schuettler was serving, but he was unable to take it.

The players were forced to go off again due to rain when the score was 6-6 in the fifth set. When the players came back, Schuettler managed to break immediately and served out to take the set 8-6 and win the match.

The 32-year-old now faces the daunting task of trying to beat the formidable Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals tomorrow.