Federer, Murray lead top four to dream semi-final lineup (Roundup)

By Bill Scott Aug 22, 2009, 1:17 GMT

Cincinnati, Ohio - Rafael Nadal completed a boxed set as the top four players reached the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters Friday led by Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Number three Nadal and fourth seed Novak Djokovic wrapped up the day with a pair of wins, Nadal overcoming Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5 and Djokovic taking out France's Gilles Simon by the identical score.

The Spaniard owns a 14-4 record over the Serb and has won their last five matches sines losing a Cincinnati semi to Djokovic a year ago. It will be Nadal's first semi-final since Madrid three months ago.

Top seed Federer produced his 13th consecutive win over longtime rival Lleyton Hewitt, going through 6-3, 6-4 in 70 minutes. It was the Swiss player's 15th win in 22 meetings with the Australian former number one.

Murray saved his Midwest title defence as he carved out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 quarter-final victory over Julien Benneteau on the back of an heroic 53-stroke rally which breathed new life into his game from a set and a break down.

'This is good for the confidence. The other players see that you're fighting. This was a big, big match,' said third seed Murray.

Federer has not lost to Hewitt since Davis Cup in 2003.

The Swiss dominated with 11 aces and one break of serve per set to deal out the 28-year-old Aussie.

'I'm really pleased the way it went,' said Federer. 'Conditions were difficult again with the gusty winds. It's a good match to come through.'

Since losing to Federer in the Open final 11 months ago, Murray has gone on a tear, beating the Swiss twice last autumn and in 2009 in Doha and Indian Wells.

'He's been on a great run in the Masters event,' said Federer. 'I hope we can have a good match. He's been very consistent and is certainly the best current player on the hard courts.

'We've always had close matches, and good ones. For this reason I'm excited playing against him. He doesn't have many weaknesses in his game. I think that's what makes him so tough on all surfaces.'

Murray made his stand in the third game of the second set, with that encounter ending as Benneteau thudded an overhead off the top of the net cord, the ball bouncing out for 2-1 to the Frenchman.

A clinched fist from Murray after the point marked the start of his comeback, with the five-time tournament winner in 2009 levelling the sets at one apiece and then running away in the third for victory.

Murray broke four times in Benneteau's last six service games.

'You've got such little time to react between the shots,' Murray said of the duel. 'I realised towards the end of the rally that it was starting to become pretty long. Then your legs start burning.: