Hertogenbosch - Qualifier Joao Sousa has reached the 's-Hertogenbosch Open semi-finals in the Netherlands on Thursday as the Portuguese world number 48 brushed aside Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-4, 6-2.
Sousa has benefited from the withdrawal of world number seven and 2012 David Ferrer, his scheduled first round opponent who pulled out with a stomach virus on the eve the tournament.
He will now face Germany's Benjamin Becker, who came back from a set down to defeat Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in a fiercely-contested match that was briefly interrupted by rain.
Results from the fifth day of the 's-Hertogenbosch ATP/WTA Open on Thursday (x denotes seeding):
Men's singles
Quarter-finals
Joao Sousa (POR) bt Thiemo de Bakker (NED) 6-4, 6-2
Benjamin Becker (GER) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN x6) 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
Women's singles
Quarter-finals
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) bt Annika Beck (GER) 6-2, 7-5
Zheng Jie (CHN) bt Elina Svitolina (UKR) 6-3, 6-0
Klara Zakopalova (CZE x8) bt Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) 6-2, 6-4
Coco Vandeweghe (USA) bt Garbie Muguruza (ESP x7) 7-6 (7/3), 6-1