Bermuda Open yesterday, blasting away at an often bewildered looking Agustin Calleri for a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

While Argentinian Calleri stood several inches taller on the court than Ilie -- listed at five feet, eleven inches, which is probably three inches more than reality -- it was the Aussie with the bigger game, his rocket launched groundstrokes proving too hot to handle.

From the start Ilie took control, running Calleri ragged while sprinting to a 5-0 lead. Calleri recovered to get to 5-3, but Ilie then regrouped to take the set at 6-3.

"I really started out well in the first set to go out to 5-0 and then I basically didn't have anywhere to go with my game,'' said Illie, who has appeared unbeatable all week and good value for the number one seed. "I couldn't play any better and started to have a little problem with my intensity.

"It went a bit towards the end of the first and into the second, but after three-all (in the second) I got it going, I was okay.'' Indeed Ilie asked many questions of his rival. However, Calleri was at a loss for answers as Ilie used his noted big return to full advantage. Calleri, bothered by a low percentage of first serves throughout, found this to be a most cruel tonic, as Ilie jumped all over his second serve in the crucial seventh game of set two, breaking the Argentinian's serve -- and will -- going up 4-3 and then holding for the match.

"(Ilie) played very well, but Calleri was very tired after playing last week,'' Calleri's coach Blengino intimated afterwards. "To beat Ilie he needed a lot of mobility because he hits really hard and he didn't have it today.'' Ilie has not lost a set thus far, having surrendered a mere 17 of 37 games, with six of those in the first set of his opening match.

An excellent all around game has contributed to his success, with the only weakness a not so frightening serve. And he added that his participation in the doubles tournament, where he has partnered Kiwi James Greenhalgh to the semis, has helped his game on the singles side.

"I played great doubles yesterday with James, which helped my returning ...

I just couldn't miss from the forehand side.'' The victory set up an intriguing semi-final tie with countryman Jason Stoltenberg, who downed France's Thierry Guardiola in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.

Ilie merely shrugged when asked of his chances for further progression ...

but it was a confident shrug.

"I'll just try to play my best and whatever happens, happens. I don't really care about the result ... as long as I play my best I'm satisfied.'' Meanwhile, Stoltenberg had a tougher time against Guardolia in the second match on Centre Court, needing an extra game in the first set, before wearing his opponent down in the second.

Stoltenberg dominated his own service games, surrendering but a single break, while forcing Guardiola to work for everything on his.

"I felt like I was close to playing a very good match, I missed a lot of close balls,'' said Stoltenberg, the one-time 19th ranked player in the world.

"(Guardiola's) a very good clay court player and this was a good test for me.

"I hit the big serves when I needed them and played well when I had to. The key today was making my first serves and I went through a period of low percentage and struggled a bit in the second set, but I was able to pick it up. When I made my first serves I was able to dictate points.'' Stoltenberg now gets the chance to settle a score with Ilie, who defeated him two weeks ago during the final of another ATP tournament in Atlanta. "He got me in Atlanta, but tomorrow's another day. I'll just go out there, give it a rip and see how it goes.'' In today's other semi-final, Italian Laurence Tieleman faces Michal Tabara of the Czech Republic, neither of whom are seeded.

Tabara continued his giant-killing act in sending fifth seed Andre Sa of Brazil packing with a stunning 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 comeback victory. The Czech native had earlier eliminated sixth seed Ronald Agenor and now faces Tieleman who ousted Sebastien Lareau in a tense three-setter, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in last night's feature match on centre court.

Earlier in the day Canadian Lareau had also sprung a surprise when he eliminated second seed Gianluca Pozzi, the veteran Italian, 6-4, 6-2.

OPEN ROUND-UP Open round-up YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Singles Second round Sebastien Lareau, Canada, d Gianluca Pozzi, Italy, 6-4, 6-2 Quarter-finals Andrew Ilie, Australia, d Agustin Calleri, Argentina, 6-3, 6-4 Jason Stoltenberg, Australia, d Thierry Guardiola, France, 7-5, 6-3 Michal Tabara, Czech Republic d Andre Sa, Brazil, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 Laurence Tieleman, Italy d Sebastien Lareau, Canada 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 Doubles Jeff Coetzee, South Africa and Brent Haygarth, South Africa d Mark Merklein, Bahamas and Peter Tramacchi, Australia, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 TODAY'S SCHEDULE Centre Court Andrew Ilie, Australia v Jason Stoltenberg, Australia, 1.00 p.m.; followed by: Michal Tabara, Czech Republic, v Laurence Tieleman, Italy followed by: Brett Haygarth, South Africa and Jeff Coetzee, South Africa v Andrew Ilie, Australia, and James Greenhalgh, New Zealand.

Power play: Australian top seed Andrew Ilie thumps a return during his 6-3, 6-4 quarter-final victory over Argentine Agustin Calleri in the Bermuda XL Capital Open at Coral Beach Club yesterday.