Top seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany advanced to the semifinals of the Japan Open at Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum on Friday with a routine 6-3, 6-3 victory over Australian Scott Draper.
Maria Sharapova of Russia returns a shot to Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg in their quarterfinal match at the Japan Open at Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum.However, the relief that accompanies any major tournament when its top seeds advance to the later stages of the event, will be tinged, by the disappointment that big-hitting Australian fifth seed Mark Philippoussis was forced to retire from his quarterfinal match with Frenchman Cyril Saulnier with a neck injury while trailing 5-2 in the first set.