Federer to face Nalbandian in French Open semis

Jun 6, 2006, 21:16 GMT

Paris, France - World No. 1 Roger Federer will battle third-ranked David Nalbandian in Friday's semifinals after both players posted quarterfinal victories Tuesday at the 2006 French Open.

The top-seeded Federer dismissed 12th-seeded Croat Mario Ancic in 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 fashion to reach his second semi here in two years. The super Swiss lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in last year's final four at Roland Garros.

Federer's effort here on Day 10 was both clean and efficient. He broke Ancic's serve four times and got off the court at Chatrier in 2 hours, 17 minutes to reach his eighth straight Grand Slam semifinal. Only Ivan Lendl, who reached 10 consecutive Grand Slam semis, has a longer streak of reaching the final four.

Ancic was ahead 2-0 and 40-love in the second set, but Federer got out of the slight jam and cruised from there. The Croat called for a trainer in the third set and wasn't on the court for much longer after that.

The 24-year-old Federer needs the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. The seven-time major titlist currently holds the Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open crowns and is trying to become the first man to hold all four Slams since Rod Laver in 1969. Only five men have won all four majors (Don Budge, Fred Perry, Roy Emerson, Laver and Andre Agassi).

Federer, who is seeking his first-ever trip to the final at Roland Garros, has won his last 26 Grand Slam matches, dating back to Wimbledon last year. Laver holds the Open Era record by capturing 29 straight from 1969-70.

The amazing Federer's next opponent will be the gritty third-seeded Nalbandian, who got past sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Nalbandian broke Davydenko's serve on six occasions and was helped along by 58 unforced errors by the Russian, who succumbed in 2 hours, 46 minutes.

The 2002 Wimbledon runner-up Nalbandian beat Federer in last year's Tennis Masters Cup final in Shanghai and is 6-5 lifetime versus the great Swiss. Federer, however, has won five of their last six encounters, including a semifinal victory at the Rome Masters just last month. They are 2-2 in their Grand Slam meetings, but have never met at the French Open.

'Each time we play, it's long, tough and tight,' Nalbandian said. 'It won't be easier for any of us.'

Wednesday's quarterfinals will pit a second-seeded Nadal against unseeded Serb Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic versus surprising Frenchman Julien Benneteau. The 20-year-old Nadal has won an Open Era-record 57 straight matches on clay and has yet to lose at the French Open, where he's 11-0.

Nadal and Federer appear to be on a collision course to meet in the final. The Spanish sensation is already 3-0 versus Federer this year, with all three wins coming in finals, including clay-court ones at Masters Series events in Monte- Carlo and Rome.

© 2006 Sports Network