TENNIS GRAND SLAM CUP : Forget Can’t Forget Call in Loss to Stich

Hard-serving David Wheaton of the United States and Wimbledon champion Michael Stich of Germany moved to a semifinal meeting with victories Friday in the Grand Slam Cup tennis tournament.

Wheaton saved four set points in the second set to beat Todd Woodbridge of Australia, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).

Stich, aided by a disputed call in the key game of the second set, beat France’s Guy Forget, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4.

“Bad calls sometimes are part of the game,” Forget said. “You have to deal with it.”

With Forget serving at 4-4, after four deuces and two break points, a shot by Stich that appeared out was intentionally hit into the net by Forget.

The linesman called the Stich ball good and the decision was upheld by French umpire Bruno Rebeuh, giving Stich the point and the game to go up, 5-4.

He then held serve to win the match.

“I had my chances to win. That last point I saw out. Sometimes you have to deal with mistakes,” Forget said.

Stich beat Forget in the tiebreaker in the first set after each had only one break point against their serve in each of their six winning-service games.

Forget had a chance to win the set, leading, 5-4, with two serves left. However, Stich tied it with a backhand passing shot for 5-5.

Forget had two more chances to close out the set and Stich one, but it was on the other’s serve.

At 8-8, Stich went up again. Then, with Forget serving, Stich attacked the net and was able to put away a weak return by Forget to win the set.

In the first quarterfinal, Woodbridge had his chances but could not beat Wheaton, ranked 17th in the world.

Wheaton, the second alternate who made the field only because of the withdrawal of Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker, reached the semifinals for the second year in a row. He is ranked 78th, lowest in the field.

Ivan Lendl meets Michael Chang in the other semifinal today.