Nadal upset in semifinal of Chennai Open

CHENNAI, India - Top-seeded Rafael Nadal lost to Xavier Malisse 6-4, 7-6 (4) Saturday in the semifinals of the Chennai Open. The 26-year-old Belgian will play in the final Sunday against Stefan Koubek of Austria, who beat two-time title winner Carlos Moya 6-3, 6-1. The 79th-ranked Koubek stopped Moya's chance of making a fourth straight Chennai Open final. Against No. 2 Nadal, Malisse clinched the opening set after forcing the only break of the match in the third game. He managed to hold his service throughout, although it came under pressure in the second set. Malisse saved six break points — three each in the 10th and 12th games. Nadal failed to advance to a final since Wimbledon. "I'm very disappointed because I wanted to win this title, but my next title will come very soon," Nadal said. "Not winning here isn't a big setback for the season ahead. I'm working hard and hope to do better in Sydney next week and then in the Australian Open at Melbourne." Malisse, ranked 37th, lost twice to the Spaniard on clay. "I proved that I am mentally tough and this was the perfect opportunity to assess where my game stood," Malisse said. "I served very well and played aggressively. On hard courts you have to be aggressive. Nadal hit a lot of short balls, but I took my chances coming to the net." Malisse's only career title came in 2005 at Delray Beach. Moya won the Chennai Open in 2004 and 2005, and lost to Ivan Ljubicic in the final last year.-AP