After cruising through the first set, Krajicek began to lose his focus during long rallies with Bjorkman. The 1997 Japan Open champion said he was trying to win points in two or three shots instead of waiting for his chance during a long exchange.

Bjorkman took control when he broke Krajicek in the 11th game of the second set as the number one seed tripped up with two double faults and a missed volley.

Krajicek was never able to get into his serve and volley game because of his erratic play at the net and a poor second serve. Krajicek has reached a career-high ranking of number four in the world thanks to titles in London and Key Biscayne, Florida, earlier this year.

Earlier, German Nicolas Kiefer beat Swedish third seed Thomas Enqvist 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-4 as the German playerrode out a first game service break in the third set to take the match.

Kiefer was able to keep Enqvist off-balance with an assortment of passing shots to score his first victory over the Swede star in four meetings.

In a match marked by long rallies, it was Kiefer who proved the stronger, even though he received treatment for an ankle injury in the ninth game of the first set.

Kiefer will play Bjorkman tomorrow in the semifinal.

South African Wayne Ferreira, seeded seven, and number four seed Thomas Johansson will contest the second semifinal.

Johansson made short work of Canadian Sebastien Lareau, dispatching him 6-1, 6-4 while Ferreira beat Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

On the women's side, number one seed and defending champion Ai Sugiyama of Japan had an easy time beating Janet Lee of Taiwan 6-4, 6-0 while number two seed Amy Frasier of the United States beat compatriot Meilen Tu 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.