Blake survives to reach Countrywide semifinals

Tennis Betting Lines

07/21/2007 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second seed James Blake edged fellow published author and countryman Vincent Spadea 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to advance to the semifinals of the Countrywide Classic on Friday.

Blake, whose autobiography "Breaking Back" recently debuted at No. 22 in the New York Times Bestseller List, drilled 31 winners en route to the victory for only his second ATP-level win in eight attempts against Spadea, who recently authored "Break Point." The 27-year-old Blake is appearing in a tournament semifinal for the fourth time this year.

Blake will meet No. 7 Hyung-Taik Lee, who stunned former No. 1 and third- seeded Marat Safin 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Lee, coming from down a break in the decisive set to tie the score at four-apiece, then converted his first of three match points on Safin's serve for the upset.

Lee failed to win a match during his first five event appearances in LA before improving his record with victories over Kevin Kim and Wesley Moodie.

The 2004 runner-up, German wild card Nicolas Kiefer also advanced, topping countryman Michael Berrer 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Kiefer, appearing in his fourth tournament this season after getting sidelined for more than a year with a wrist injury, advanced to his first semifinal since the 2006 Australian Open, where he lost to Roger Federer.

A wild card entrant in his first hardcourt tournament in 16 months, Kiefer will face unseeded Radek Stepanek, who handled wild card Zack Fleishman 6-4, 6-2. Stepanek, who last May reached a career-high No. 8 in the ATP Rankings, snapped Fleishman's Cinderella run at his hometown tournament.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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