NEW YORK. Sept 8: Crowd favourite American Todd Martin reached the semifinals of ihe 15-mlllion dollar US Open with a four-set win over Thomas Johansson of Sweden here Thursday, reports AFP

The 30-year-old 1999 runner-up defeated Johansson 6-4, 6-4. 3-6. 7-5 In two-hours and 32 minutes while firing up 18 aces.

Martin will now face sixth-seeded Russian Marat Safin

Saturdav who beat fotirlemth seeded Nicolas Kiefer of Germany in four tight sets in an earlier match Thursday.

Up two-sets to love. Martin saw Johansson make a final comeback, winning the third sei and going up 4-1 In the fourth before the American prevailed

With the win, the American reached his sixth career Grand Slam tournament semifinal and third here while this was Johansson’s first Grand Slam quarter-final since the 1998 US Open.

The 91 ranked Johaiisson

did not play at last years, American hard-court c.rnt lx?-, < •use of viral iMTlcardllts and myxardltls. a viral infection* itflecting Uh lining and muscle oi the he,ut that caused him to be sidelined for the remainder of the year. \

The resilient American is known for his epic come-backs here He rebounded from a two-sets to love deficit and faced 4 match [xjut in his fourth round match against former world number one Carlos Moya of Spain before rallying to pull out an lie n-dihb- win in four hours 1 7 minutes

The come-back was reminiscent of last year's 1999 fourth round encounter here with Britain's Greg Rusedski. There’, Martin also erased a two-set to love deficit and advanced.

But he didn't have to work hard tonight in the beginning, dictating play at will with his usual sound volleying and sharply angled serving. Martin fought off three break points in Ihe fourth game to hold serve, the only break points he faced in the two first sets, then broke in the following game with a clean forehand down the Une winner to go up 4-2. He served out the set on a Johansson netted backhand.

The same scenario unfolded in the second set. with Martin earning a break in the fifth' game on a forehand passing-, shot winner and secured the set five games later on a winning backhand volley.

As the former Australian Oj>en runner-up appeared to be cruising, he began to ran out of gas, dropping his serve for tha first time in the fourth gaiM The Swede went up 4-1 1m secured the set 6-3 on an aeq his 15th I

Growing in confidence am looking in much better share physically than Martin. Jo-i hansson broke immediately in the fourth to take a 2-love. then 4-1 lead