Federer reaches Swiss indoors semis

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:07

It marked the 13th consecutive win at this hardcourt competition for Federer, who is the two-time defending champion.

Also a finalist in 2000 and 2001, Federer will attempt to return to the title match on Saturday when he faces unseeded Feliciano Lopez.

Federer owns a 6-0 mark against the Spaniard, but the reigning US Open champion should take nothing for granted considering the way Lopez has played this week.

The world number 39 posted Friday’s biggest surprise, ousting fourth-seeded American James Blake, 6-4 7-6 (9-7), in the quarters. A round earlier, Lopez disposed of Blake’s compatriot and number eight seed Mardy Fish.

The semi-final on the opposite side of the draw will be an intriguing all-Argentinian clash between second seed David Nalbandian and number three seed Juan Martin del Potro.

Nalbandian, the 2002 champion here and two-time runner-up, moved through with a 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 win against Benjamin Becker while Del Potro knocked of sixth-seeded Russian Igor Andreev, 6-4 7-5.

This is the second time in as many tournaments that the Argentinians will square off as Del Potro levelled the series at 1-1 with a third-round triumph last week at Madrid.

Del Potro, who is threatening to overtake Nalbandian as Argentina’s top player, has put together an outstanding second half of the season and Friday’s win was his 35th triumph in 38 matches.

The 20-year-old had never won an ATP singles title until this past summer, when he reeled off 23 consecutive wins that culminated in four straight championships.

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