Kiefer's comeback stalled by knee injury

	Cynthia Lum/WireImage.com Nicolas Kiefer's wrist holds up but his knee takes him down in LA.

Back on the tour after nearly a year away recovering from major wrist surgery, Kiefer experienced severe soreness in his left knee and was forced to withdraw minutes before his semifinal match Saturday evening at the Countrywide Classic on the UCLA campus.

A clearly stunned and disappointed Kiefer addressed the crowd after the walkover was announced and apologized.

"This morning, I was hitting okay. I came back later on, I wanted to hit again, and all of a sudden I couldn't move my leg anymore," Kiefer said. "We tried everything we could with my knee. Different things, different treatments, but it didn't get better. It's too bad because I tried to go further. I try to make the finals, I think I'm in a good way back, playing solid tennis at the moment."

Radek Stepanek advanced to the final Sunday against James Blake.

Kiefer was playing in just his fourth tournament since injuring his wrist at Roland Garros last year. Two surgeries were needed and Kiefer was forced to sit out almost an entire twelve months. Ranked No. 13 close to a year ago, his ranking plummeted to 413 and he needed a wildcard to get into this tournament.

The knee injury - no word yet on the severity - comes just as Kiefer was starting to find his range and confidence on the court. The German had rolled through the first two rounds, then successfully battled to hold off friend and countryman Michael Berrer in the quarterfinals.  

Kiefer, who reached the '04 final, was moving well and striking the ball solidly. His goal this summer was to find his rhythm and get back to being match tough.

"This is why I came so early to the States. I am here till the end of the US Open and I want to use this time for some good practice and try to play as many good matches as I can," Kiefer said after his second-round win.

While the long struggle with the wrist injury hurt Kiefer's tennis, it may have had a positive effect on something else - his demeanor.  Kiefer, who in the past has shown little regard for what the media, the public or his fellow players thought of him, has been downright pleasant this week. The German even shook off being relegated to the lowly grandstand court on Friday afternoon.

"I don't care which court I play on or where I play," Kiefer said. "I am playing good tennis and am enjoying every single moment."

Kiefer had also received a wildcard into next week's tournament in Indianapolis. A withdrawal from that tournament seems likely, although no official announcement has been made.

Second-seed James Blake, clearly the class of the field, has had to work hard in all of his matches, including his semifinal win over Hyung-Taik Lee of Korea. Blake survived a few shaky spells to hold on 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

As to starting the hard-court season with a finals appearance in LA, Blake said: "It's a good feeling, and hopefully the start of good things in the summer."

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