The Moroccan, ranked 594 in the world, played one of his best games so far in the tournament to chalk up a surprise 6-4, 6-0 victory over the Frenchman. Golmard, once ranked 22 in the world in 1999 and winner of the Dubai Open in the same year, gave a good fight in the first set before going down. But he failed to find his touch in the second as Chaki virtually dominated to hit some incredible winners to win the set and the match.

Chaki will now take on fourth seed Ivo Klec of Slovakia who ousted sixth seeded Karim Mamoun of Egypt 6-2, 6-4. But the Egyptian, a Davis Cup player, did not surrender easily as he battled fiercely in both sets.

He dictated the pace in the opening set before losing ground and the set. But the second set was a different a story as he tested Klec, rated 330 in the world, with some great passing shots.

Klec, however, dug deep into his resources and with his powerful volleys took the set 6-4 and the match.

Top seed Hicham Arazi of Morocco, meanwhile, defeated Tristan Meniane of France 6-2, 6-3 in another quarter-final match. Arazi’s opponent in the semifinals is third seed Marco Chudinelli of Switzerland. The Swiss, who defeated Johan Ortegren of Sweden, lost the first set 6-7 (5) and took the second 6-3 but his opponent retired.

Arazi, aiming for the double, teamed up with France’s Jerome Golmar to beat Mohammed Al Ghareb (Kuwait)/Johan Ortegren (Sweden) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8 in the men’s Super doubles.

The pair will meet Ivo Klec (Slovakia)/Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerland) in the doubles final. Klec/Chiudinelli shocked second seed, Alexander Sadecky (Switzerland)/Sitak Dimitry (Russia) 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Results: Men’s Super singles quarter-finals: Hicham Arazi (Morocco) bt Tristan Menian (France) 6-2, 6-3; Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerlan) bt Johan Orgegren (Sweden) 6-7, 6-3 (retired); Ivo Klec (Slovakia) bt Karim Mamoun (Egypt) 6-2, 6-4; Rabie Chaki (Morocco) bt Jerome Golmar (France) 6-1, 2-6, 7-6.

Men’s Super doubles semifinals: Hicham Arazi (Morocco)/Jerome Golmar (France) bt Mohammed Al Ghareb (Kuwait)/Johan Ortegren (Sweden) 6-1, 3-6, 10-8; Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerland)/Ivo Klec (Slovakia) bt Alexander Sadecky (Switzerland)/Dimitry Sitak (Russia) 6-2, 6-3.

edwin@khaleejtimes.com