Federer Faces Tough Road To Title

Roger Federer defeated arch rival David Nalbandian 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 Friday to reach the Masters Series Monte-Carlo semifinals, but his tough path to the title runs through Novak Djokovic and possibly Rafael Nadal after the top four seeds all reached the semis.

Only once before have the top four seeds all advanced to the semifinals of an ATP Masters Series event. That first happened in Cincinnati in 1999, when Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter, Andre Agassi, and Yevgeny Kafelnikov all made the last four. (The ATP Masters Series began in 1990.)

In a blockbuster card Saturday, top seed Federer will take on third seed Novak Djokovic after second seed and three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal does battle with fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko.

On Friday Estoril champion Federer extended his clay-court winning streak to eight matches and avenged back-to-back ATP Masters Series losses to Nalbandian in Madrid and Paris at the end of last year with his best performance of the tournament to date. After a tense, energy-sapping first set, Federer's superior fitness proved decisive as the match wore on, particularly in the third set as the match broke through the two-hour mark.

But the ATP World No. 1 initially did not have things go all his way. In the first set at 5-5, Nalbandian produced a sublime chip/charge and drop volley combination off a Federer second serve to move to 0/40, and soon thereafter converted his third break chance of the game to take the first break of the match. The Argentine closed out the set on his first set point after surprising Federer with a serve and volley play.

After not facing a beak point in the first set, Nalbandian was broken in the opening game of the second set and twice more as a rejuvenated Federer raced away with the second set. In the third set Federer broke Nalbandian for 4-2 when the Argentine, perhaps emboldened by his attacking play on set point in the first set, made a strange decision to serve and volley on his second serve at 30/40, only to net a routine backhand volley. Federer held for 5-2 and broke again to close out the match.

Federer, who has finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal the past two years in Monte-Carlo, improved to a 9-8 career record against Nalbandian.

Asked if it was his best win of the year, Federer said: "I rather would have won in two sets, then maybe it would have been the best match of the season.
It was a good match. I was happy with my performance.

"It's always nice playing against [Nalbandian]. And when you beat him, you always know you're playing well because he's not just going to hand it over to you."

Watch more Masters Series Monte-Carlo video, including live match action, at ATP Masters Series TV.