Federer in control as Nalbandian melts in Madrid

Oct 21, 2006, 14:32 GMT

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer returns the ball to Argentinian David Nalbandian during their Masters Series Madrid 2006 semi-final match at the \'Madrid Arena\' in Madrid, central Spain, Saturday 21 October 2006. EPA/B. Echavarri

Madrid - Roger Federer hammered out a win over David Nalbandian for the seventh time in eight matches Saturday, dominating 6-4, 6-0 to power into the final of the Madrid Masters.

The Swiss world number 1 showed his pedigree with his 18th straight match victory. He boasts a season record of 81-5.

With top rival Rafael Nadal eliminated in a quarter-final surprise at home, Federer will contest Sunday's best-of-five-set final against either Nadal's conqueror Tomas Berdych or Chile's tenth seed Fernando Gonzalez.

'It's been a very solid and good tournament so far,' said the Swiss. 'This was by far my best match.

'I hope that with the best-of-five match tomorrow I can have a good start and hopefully roll away.

'It's going to be difficult, they're dangerous players, both of them.'

Federer advanced to his 14th final of the season in 59 minutes, breaking Nalbandian five times and striking 28 winners.

Nalbandian came to the court after winning a draining match the day before over former champion Marat Safin.

Federer couldn't help but be pleased with his overwhelming showing and short afternoon's work.

'He's obviously the best return player I've played all week,' Federer said of Nalbandian. 'It was an excellent match for a semi finals, that's for sure.

'The second set was phenomenal and I thought this is when I could start to hit freely, hit the returns more, take more chances. It all worked out, it was great.'

Federer has never won in Madrid and is playing the tournament for the first time since 2003.

Nalbandian stands sixth in the race for November's Masters Cup in Shanghai with two more weeks of the season to go. Federer and Nadal have already qualified into the eight-man field

Federer took the match by the throat with a 4-1 lead as he began with two aces and a love game.

But the momentum took a slight detour as Nalbandian got the break back for 3-4 from Federer's volley error. The Argentine than had to work out of a jam as well, which he did by saving three break points to square for 4-4.

Federer lifted to claim the set two games later as Nalbandian fired a return into the net, then tried to claim a computer challenge - which he lost - by saying Federer's return had been long.

It was no contest in the second set as Federer wrapped up the sweeping victory.