1.   And none had to overcome the lack of homecourt advantage in the semifinal round, a task the Lakers are handling nicely against San Antonio.

2.   And then, with his mission of reinvention in full swing here at the U.S. Open, he strode briskly into the semifinal round after causing yet another upset.

3.   Andre Agassi, a practitioner of these subtle skills and a virtuoso at returning serve, was eliminated by Becker in the semifinal round.

4.   After his victory in the trials, McMullen made it to the Olympic semifinal round in Atlanta.

5.   Four years ago, the Canadians lost in a shootout to the Czechs in the semifinal round and finished fourth.

6.   He scored a crucial goal during the Olympics and helped the team reach the semifinal round for the first time in history.

7.   He was at his best in the semifinal round, playing a group of nocturnal pieces.

8.   He will advance into the semifinal round against Sampras, another contemporary from a bumper crop of talented Americans, three of whom have reached the semifinal round.

9.   In the semifinal round she also proved, with a pair of Schubert Impromptus, that she can perform music from the Viennese classics with the best of them.

10.   Monday then drew a bye into the semifinal round, to be contested Friday.