The result damages Henman's Masters Cup hopes

Henman was broken in the third game of the first set but broke back five games later to level at 4-4.

In the tie-break Novak raced into a 6-2 lead and although Henman fought off a couple of set points he was only delaying the inevitable.

The second set also looked like going to a tie-break but at 6-5 Novak broke Henman to claim a semi-final berth.

Defeat was a blow to Henman's hopes of qualifying for the end-of-season Masters Cup.

The 30-year-old currently lies seventh in the Champions Race, with only the top seven to qualify, but he can guarantee himself a place by reaching the Paris Masters quarter-finals next week.

"It's a bit soon to think about my feelings for Paris but it's going to be an important week," said Henman, who will defend his title in Paris.

"It's disappointing to go out here in Basel, but I feel like I'm hitting the ball well and playing well."

Novak will play Stefan Koubek in the last four after the Austrian fought back from a set down to beat Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic 2-6 7-5 7-5.

Double Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu reached the semi-finals with a 6-2 7-6 win over Bohdan Ulihrach.

The Chilean seventh seed recovered from a break down in the second set to put an end to Ulihrach's run.