STOCKHOLM - Top-seeded Robin Soderling withdrew from the Stockholm Open semifinals yesterday because of an elbow injury, allowing Marcos Baghdatis to advance to the final against Olivier Rochus.

Rochus outlasted Tomaz Bellucci of Brazil, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, to reach today's final at Royal Tennis Hall.

Soderling has been bothered by a sore right elbow since July, when he withdrew from the quarterfinals in Washington. He said he's felt pain in the last few weeks.

Tipsarevic to meet Youzhny in Moscow

MOSCOW - Janko Tipsarevic will play Mikhail Youzhny and Francesca Schiavone will meet Olga Govortsova in the final of the Kremlin Cup, after all four players posted straight-set victories yesterday.

Tipsarevic advanced to his first final by beating Ukrainian qualifier Illya Marchenko, 6-1, 6-4, while Youzhny beat Kazakh qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin, 6-2, 6-1.

Schiavone defeated Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine, 6-4, 6-0, to make her second straight final, while Govortsova ousted Alisa Kleybanova of Russia, 6-2, 6-1, to reach her second career final.