Federer to meet Haas in semis

Dubai: World No 1 and top seed Roger Federer took another step towards a record fourth title with a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 win against highly-rated teenager Novak Djokovic to enter the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open last night.

The win sets up a mouth-watering clash between Federer and Tommy Haas, who defeated Olivier Rochus 6-0, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

In the second semifinal, Robin Soderling will take on the winner of the match between Mikhail Youzhny and defending champion Rafael Nadal, scheduled later last night.

Federer, a winner here in 2003, 2004 and 2005 lost his crown to Spaniard Rafael Nadal in a dramatic yet entertaining three-set final last year.

But last night, there was none of the rustiness of skipping a month off the Tour after his win at the Australian Open, as the Swiss ace took the first set 6-3 in 32 minutes.

Federer did not have the best of starts though as Djokovic registered an early break and then held serve to go 2-0 up.

But Federer had other intentions as he broke back in the sixth to draw level 3-3 and then another one in the eighth to go 5-3 up. A sizzling ace down the line helped last year's runner-up serve out the set 6-3 in 32 minutes.

"He fought well. I liked the way I closed it out in the end," Federer said.

From then on it looked as though Federer had a tight lease on proceedings as he broke the 14th-ranked Serb in the very first game and then held serve to go clear 2-0.

And just when it looked like Federer would sweep through the set, Djokovic broke back in the eighth for 4-4.

Both players held serve to push the set into the tie-breaker which Djokovic - thanks to a return that lipped the net cord and fell in - won at 7-5.

"The youngsters have improved a lot. I think I had an easier one against him at the Australian Open," Federer admitted.

Federer got the break he wanted in the eighth game to go 5-3 up, and then he held serve on love to win the set and match 6-3 in just over two hours.

The win takes Federer's unbeaten run to 39 starting with the beginning of the US Open last year. The Swiss ace went 4-0 up against the 19-year-old Serb, and he is just seven wins away from Guillermo Vilas's unbeaten streak of 46 set way back in 1977.

Meanwhile, Robin Soderling helped himself to a third semifinal of the year with a 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-0 win against tricky Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

The Swede, a semifinalist in Doha and Rotterdam, did not have things easy despite the scoreline.

He took the first set 6-1, but suddenly saw Santoro mixing his game well to take the set in the tie breaker. His dominance was complete in the third with a 6-0 result.

"But I was not pleased with the way I played in the third set," Soderling said.

Results (March 1)

Singles: Robin Soderling bt Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-0; Tommy Haas bt Olivier Rochus 6-0, 6-2; Roger Federer vs Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

Doubles: Mahesh Bhupathi/Radek Stepanek bt Tomas Berdych/Petr Pala 6-3, 6-4; Paul Hanley/Kevin Ullyett bt Olivier Rochus/Kristof Vliegen 6-2, 6-4.