Arazi continues giant-killing run

Tim Henman's hopes of a first clay court title ended on a sun-bleached Monte Carlo centre court on Friday as the British eighth seed lost 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 7-6 (7-2) to Hicham Arazi in the Masters quarter-finals.

After three confident performances at the $2.95 million Mediterranean event, Henman -- the first Briton to reach the tournament's last eight since 1975 -- ran out of steam against the Moroccan stylist.

Arazi, who had beaten third seed Magnus Norman and defending champion Cedric Pioline in successive rounds, maintained his momentum against Henman in a marathon match lasting two hours 54 minutes.

The Moroccan will next play ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean after the Frenchman wasted no time beating 15th-seeded Swiss Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3.

Saturday's other semifinal will see 1999 champion Gustavo Kuerten tackle Argentine prospect Guillermo Coria.

Brazilian Kuerten came from a set down to beat Sjeng Schalken 6-7 (1-7), 6-2, 6-4 and stretch his record over the Dutchman to 7-0.

PERFECT CONDITION

Coria booked the first semifinal spot of the day beating Spanish qualifier Alberto Martin 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

The 1999 French Open junior champion said: "It has always been a dream of mine to play here in Monte Carlo and now it is not a dream, it is reality and I am in the semifinals.

"I am in perfect condition for tomorrow and really looking forward to it."

Arazi, in the semifinals of a Masters tournament for the first time, was delighted with his victory.

"In two years Henman has made tremendous progress on clay, he's a player against who it is very difficult to finish a match. He has tremendous mental strength and is never beaten so I am delighted about this result," Arazi said afterwards.

"I did not expect to get this far. I haven't made a great start to the season and have had a wrist injury but now why not go further?"

Henman made a crippling 70 unforced errors in the match, simply too many to give himself a chance of beating the left-hander.

BLAZING SUNSHINE

He had won eight of their nine previous matches but despite some moments of genius could not do enough in the principality's blazing sunshine.

He threw away a 5-3 lead in the first set to lose it 7-3 on a tiebreak after an hour and seven minutes, handing Arazi the initiative.

The Moroccan broke immediately to lead 2-0 in the second set as Henman wilted in the heat, but the Briton dug in and, as Arazi became tentative, reeled off six straight games to level the match.

Again Arazi started the better and the world number 53 immediately broke Henman twice to lead 3-0 in the decider.

Still the Briton fought, breaking back twice to level at 3-3.

With both men tiring, Arazi broke again and then held for 5-3 to put victory within sight.

But Henman broke Arazi as the Moroccan was serving for the match.

The Briton held to take the lead for the first time since the first set and, at 15-30, was two points from victory. Arazi, however, refused to buckle and sent the match into a deciding tiebreak.

Again Henman's errors proved fatal. He made five in a row to trail 6-1 and at 6-2 Arazi rifled a trademark backhand winner to clinch victory.

"It was certainly disappointing to lose a match like that, Henman said.

"I played okay but I guess given our history of matches that maybe he deserved to win that one.

"We both played well but not at the same time. But I kept fighting and that's a good thing."

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