Federer marches into Dubai semis
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) -- Roger Federer reached the semifinals of the Dubai Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-3 victory over Romania's Andrei Pavel.
The defending champion made a few simple errors early in the match but he was never threatened and soon took control against a frustrated opponent.
"I'm very happy. I thought I was playing well from the baseline," said the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.
"He's a very tough opponent because he can play all-round tennis."
Pavel held his own until the sixth game when Federer broke to love, the pace of a cross-court rally forcing a forehand error on break point.
Pavel had to hold off a further two break points at 5-2 and two more at 1-1 in the second set before Federer claimed a break for 3-2 with a backhand winner on the run.
Federer felt there was still room for improvement.
"I'm definitely not playing my best and I'll always miss a few forehands because of the opponents and the circumstances," said the Swiss, who broke serve again for the match.
Federer is the last remaining seed after Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, the number eight, was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.
The left-handed Nieminen, who struck the ball with more conviction throughout, took the first set after breaking for 5-3, and then won the final three games of the second.
Nieminen will now face Federer, while in the second semifinal Mikhail Youzhny of Russia plays Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
Youzhny ended the ambitions of Spain's Rafael Nadal when he defeated the 17-year-old 6-2 1-6 6-1.
Nadal, who earlier this year reached his first career final in Auckland before losing to Slovak Dominik Hrbaty, was finally overwhelmed by a more experienced opponent.
Upper hand
Youzhny, who captured the Davis Cup for Russia in 2002 in the deciding match, jumped to a 4-1 lead in the first set. Although Nadal led 40-0 on Youzhny's serve in the next game he put no depth on his returns and his opponent held for 5-1.
In the second set Nadal gained the upper hand and after an early break each he broke again for 3-1.
Youzhny then all but gave up, dropping the next three games to love as the Spaniard leveled the match.
Youzhny also struggled to hold his serve as the final set got underway and faced a break point at 1-1.
But he saved that with an ace and went on to win the next 10 points to earn a 4-1 lead against a fading opponent. A further break for 5-1 all but sealed the match.
"I was completely dead in the second set, but I woke up after I hit two aces," said Youzhny of his third set revival.
"I started to serve better than before and he made mistakes. He's a good player but he's still young."
Youzhny now faces Lopez, who struggled to close out his match 6-4 7-6 against big-serving Croat Ivan Ljubicic after leading by a set and 4-2.
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