The Hindu : Sport : Federer cruises into final

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Sunday, Apr 22, 2007
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Federer cruises into final

EASY OUTING: Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych to set up a final clash with Roger Federer. — Photo: AFP

MONTE CARLO : Roger Federer applied the power after he trailed early on then throttled into his second consecutive final at the Monte Carlo Masters on Saturday. The Swiss top seed extended his mastery over two-time winner Juan Carlos Ferrero, defeating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-4.

Federer improved to 7-3 against Ferrero, with their only previous clay court meeting coming in the Rome semifinals four years ago when the Spaniard retired because he was injured. The win was the fifth in a row for the Swiss in the series.

The top-ranked Swiss player saved two break points when trailing 3-1 in the first set, and then won the next four games to take the set.

Meanwhile, Nadal advanced after beating 10th-seeded Tomas Berdych 6-0, 7-5.

Nadal, who lost his previous three matches to Berdych, conceded just seven points in the opening set.

Berdych rallied in the second set and pressured Nadal on his serve for three consecutive games, but the Czech player could not get the break he needed.

Last year, Nadal beat Federer in both the Monte Carlo Masters and French Open finals. The French Open is the only Major Federer has not won.

Earlier, Nadal reached the semifinals by seeing off German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-3. Nadal was barely troubled against the World No. 59 though he needed five matchpoints to wrap up a 74-minute win.

Third final

Federer, defeated by Nadal in the final here a year ago, will be playing in his third final of the season after winning the Australian Open and Dubai.

Federer began slowly against former No. 1 Ferrero, falling 3-1 behind in the opening set and facing the possibility of a 4-1 deficit. But saving a pair of Ferrero chances seemed to flick a switch for the Swiss, who proceeded to turn on his trademark domination.

Precise passing shots and even the occasional serve-and-volley winner flowed, with Federer claiming seven straight points midway through.

He got the break back in the sixth game, broke the Spaniard for 5-3 and fired an ace for a set point a game later.

That was all it took as a frustrated Ferrero returned wide after 38 minutes.

Federer consolidated as he started the second set with a break then maintained the edge onwards to victory in 76 minutes.

Strained relations

Nadal was facing Berdych in their first meeting since last October's Madrid Masters, when Berdych beat Nadal a third straight time and relations between them were strained by Berdych's reaction to the spectators.

As Berdych left the court to jeers, he angered the pro-Nadal crowd by putting his fingers to his lips in a silencing motion.

The results: Semifinals: Roger Federer bt Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-4; Rafael Nadal bt Tomas Berdych 6-0, 7-5. Quarterfinals: Ferrero bt Richard Gasquet 5-7, 7-5, 6-2; Rafel Nadal bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-3.

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