Mr Charisma Marcos Baghdatis sent a scare through nervous tournament organisers and his adoring Australian fan club on Thursday night when he limped off the court at the Sydney International.

Baghdatis collapsed on centre court with a leg injury during an epic third set of his quarter-final against Spaniard Carlos Moya.

Remarkably, he returned and showed few signs of pain but it was Moya who booked his place in Friday's semi-finals with a thrilling 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-3) win, the final set itself lasting 79 minutes.

Moya, Spain's first-ever world No.1 player, has proved himself a party pooper in Australia before, downing Australian hope Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open in 2001.

He was also runner-up at the Open to Pete Sampras in 1997.

With the match locked at 1-1, Moya was leading the decider 1-0 on serve and was pressing the Cypriot for a break in a game that had reached deuce six times.

The world No.12 grimaced in pain when a trainer manipulated his calf, and took a three-minute medical timeout to have his ankle re-strapped.

With his fan club in full voice at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, around 15 weaved their way from the top of the stands waving flags to comfort their hero courtside.

The strapping did the trick for the 2006 Australian Open finalist as he bounced back up and quickly held serve.

He broke the Spaniard next game to go up 3-1 and had the chance to serve for the match at 5-4.

But 30-year-old Moya produced a stunning lob to break for 5-5.

In the tiebreaker, Moya produced some ripping forehands and Baghdatis could only come up with errors.

Moya will play the winner of the other quarter-final between French compatriots Richard Gasquet and Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Baghdatis said he was "disappointed but happy".

"I'm disappointed because I lost, of course, but I'm pretty by the way I'm playing, by the way I'm fighting," he said.

"I guess I'm ready for Melbourne and that is the most positive thing."

He said the injury was not as bad as it had looked.

"I got scared in the beginning," he said.

"I thought I twisted a tendon behind the left ankle.

"But then (it) went up to the calf and slowly, slowly (it) was getting better and better."

Asked if he was in any doubt for the Open, he said: "No, no, I don't think so, unless tomorrow I cannot walk."

He said the injury would be assessed later Thursday.

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