HOLDER Roger Federer scored a comfortable 6-3 6-3 win over unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters yesterday.
The world No1 was joined in the semis by Serbian Novak Djokovic, who brushed aside Verdasco's compatriot Albert Montanes 6-2 6-3.
Federer took just under half an hour to wrap up the first set against Verdasco but had to beat back a determi
ned challenge at the start of the second, saving several break points.
After holding his serve for a 3-2 lead, the 24-year-old Spaniard called for the doctor and had his right ankle heavily bandaged. Federer took full advantage of his opponent's misfortune, and cruised to victory. "It was unfortunate for him that his foot hurt a little bit but I don't think that had much to do with it at the very end," the Swiss said.
Federer, four times a winner in Hamburg, will meet Nicolas Kiefer of Germany or Italy's Andreas Seppi in Saturday's semi-final. Djokovic faces the winner of the quarter final clash between Mallorcan duo Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya today.
Meamwhile former world number one Serena Williams said the back injury that forced her to pull out of the Italian Open quarter-finals yesterday should not affect her bid to win the French Open.
"I just went for a shot (in practice] and then my back got a little stuck, said the eight-time grand slam event winner. "I don't expect this to cause any problems with my preparation for the French Open."
The full article contains 268 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
