Defending champion and top seed Tim Henman crashed out of the $1 million Swiss Indoors tournament on Friday when he was beaten 3-6 7-6 6-2 by Argentine sixth seed David Nalbandian. Nalbandian, who beat Henman earlier this year in their only previous meeting which also went to three sets, will meet either Swiss favourite Roger Federer, the third seed, or American fifth seed Andy Roddick in Saturday's semi-finals.
Federer and Roddick were due to meet later on Friday following Henman's two-hour, 41-minute defeat by this year's Wimbledon finalist. For the Argentine, the win set up the prospect of a tilt for only his second title.
Henman's reverse came less than a week after he became a father for the first time. His wife Lucy gave birth to their daughter last Saturday. He had been hoping to become the first player to defend the Basel title since Swede Stefan Edberg in 1985 and 1986.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
