Home favourite Pat Rafter enjoyed a far smoother ride as he saw off Germany's Oliver Gross 6-2 6-4 6-3.

BBC: News | Tennis | Injury wrecks Rios challenge

Another feature match on Monday sees Australia's Jelena Dokic take on former world number one Ana Ivanovic on Pat Rafter Arena.

CNN: Clijsters makes winning start to 2010

Meanwhile, top seed Andy Roddick will play defending champion Radek Stepanek in Sunday's men's final at the Pat Rafter Arena.

CNN: Henin injured in final defeat to Clijsters

In the past 30 years, Australians have won just five singles titles - Pat Cash one, Pat Rafter two and Lleyton Hewitt two.

BBC: Just the Tomic

Clijsters, meanwhile, was also made to work hard in her quarterfinal but eventually edged a rollercoaster clash with Lucie Safarova 6-1 0-6 6-4 at the Pat Rafter Arena.

CNN: Henin and Clijsters reach Brisbane semis

He lost twice in grand slam finals -- to compatriot Pat Rafter at the U.S. Open in 1998, before running into a young pretender called Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2003.

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Ferrero was also the key member of the Spanish team which won the Davis Cup for the first time in 2000, beating Pat Rafter and then Lleyton Hewitt to clinch the tie.

BBC: Juan Carlos Ferrero