Byron Black remains on course for his second Hong Kong title in six months after sweeping into the semi-finals of the US$340,000 Salem Open yesterday.
The in-form Zimbabwean made light work of quarter-final opponent Gianluca Pozzi of Italy, winning 6-4, 6-0 in a brisk one hour and seven minutes at Victoria Park.
Although Black won the Marlboro Championships exhibition event in the same stadium last October, the 28-year-old from Harare has not won an event on the ATP Tour since 1996.
On yesterday's performance, however, it looks more than possible that Black's lengthy title drought could come to an end this weekend.
Black is still riding high after beating world number four and reigning US Open champion Patrick Rafter in his country's upset win over Australia in the Davis Cup last week.
Victory against Rafter and Australia has helped to snap Black out of a form slump, the world number 81 said after beating Pozzi.
'Before last week I was in a bit of a slump. When you go into a Davis Cup match you're not playing for yourself, you're playing for your country and all the adrenalin and team spirit snaps you out of it,' Black said.
