Federer, Djokovic reach Swiss Indoors semifinals in contrasting fashion

Basel: World number one Roger Federer breezed into the Swiss Indoors semifinals on Friday but the home crowd's hopes of an all-Swiss final were dashed when Novak Djokovic rallied to beat Stanislas Wawrinka.

Federer overcame Evgeny Korolev 6-3 6-2 and will face unseeded compatriot Marco Chiudinelli, a 6-1 6-3 winner over Frenchman Richard Gasquet, in the semifinal.

Forcing the tiebreak

Wawrinka, the other home quarter-finalist, won the first set against the world number three and was a break up in the second. But the Serb broke back, won the second set tiebreak and eased through the third to win 3-6 7-6 6-2.

Djokovic will face fifth seed Radek Stepanek who beat fourth seed Marin Cilic 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Federer, aiming for a fourth successive title in his hometown tournament, broke serve twice in each set against the world number 58, who was never really in the match.

Swiss number two Wawrinka, in the other half of the draw to his more illustrious compatriot, looked as if he could upset Djokovic as he served six aces on his way to winning the first set.

With the fans getting even more excited, Wawrinka broke again in the seventh game of the second to put himself on the verge of a semifinal place.

But Djokovic broke straight back and went on to win the tiebreak 7-5. That took the wind out of Wawrinka's sails and the Serb rushed through the third set.

"It was a real test," said Djokovic, who thrashed Jan Hernych 6-0 6-0 on Thursday. "The first two matches I played here were without a lot of rhythm."

Results

Swiss Indoors Men's singles quarterfinal

*1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Evgeny Korolev (Russia) 6-3 6-2

Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerland) beat Richard Gasquet (France) 6-1 6-3

2-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat 6-Stanislas Wawrinka

(Switzerland) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2

5-Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) beat 4-Marin Cilic (Croatia) 4-6 6-3 6-3.

ATP Valencia Open on Friday (x denotes seeding):

Quarterfinals

Andy Murray (GBR x1) bt Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-4, 6-2

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Gilles Simon (FRA x5) 6-4, 6-4

Nikolay Davydenko (RUS x2) bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3)

Fernando Verdasco (ESP x4) bt Tommy Robredo (ESP x7) 6-3, 6-2