But fellow Argentines Gaston Gaudio and the indefatigable Guillermo Coria won in straight sets as did Russian Marat Safin
Last year's winner Carlos Moya was beaten 6-4, 7-6 by local wildcard Potito Starace.
The Russian former world No 1 was beaten in the second round by Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic.
The Russian beat Fernando Vicente 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the French Open second round.
The top seed was dumped out of the Barcelona Open by Argentine Jose Acasuso in straight sets.
Safin was followed through the exit door at the Nasdaq Open by fifth-seeded Spaniard Carlos Moya.
The world No.1 shrugged off sweltering conditions beat Olivier Rochus in the second round of the Nasdaq-100 Open.
The former world No.1 Aussie will face twice runner-up Marat Safin in the Australian Open final.
"For some reason I found the power to fight, to wait for my opportunities and eventually they came," the Russian said.
The Russian is one of those fancied to wrest the title from world number one Roger Federer this time.
In the other semi-final at the San Jose Open, German sixth seed Benjamin Becker, who upset Marat Safin will take on Ivo Karlovic.
German sixth seed Benjamin Becker beat Marat Safin to set up a semi-final meeting with Ivo Karlovic, who had earlier dispatched fifth seeded American Mary Fish at the San Jose Open.
The American was beaten by world number 103 Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the second round.
World number one and defending champion Roger Federer won an epic 20-18 tie-break to seal a 6-3, 7-6 win over Marat Safin and place in the Masters Cup final.
The semi-final line-up for the Masters: Federer vs Safin; Roddick vs Hewitt.
The Russian had his endurance tested to the limit by the German before coming through the first round of the Australian Open.
Amritraj was leading 5-3 in the first set when the Russian retired with an injury to his left wrist.
Amritraj, a wild card, was leading 5-3 in the first set when the Russian retired with an injury to his left wrist.
Andre Agassi beat Spain's Tommy Robredo while Marat Safin knocked out Peruvian Luis Horna at the Madrid Masters.
World number one Roger Federer will meet second seed Andy Roddick in the final of the Thailand Open after both claimed three-set victories.
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