Sport - Tennis

Federer eases into final

Hingis books semifinal showdown with Mauresmo

SWISS SIZZLER: Roger Federer reached his ninth successive final packing off Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 at the Dubai Open on Friday. — PHOTO: AP

DUBAI: Roger Federer reached his ninth successive final and extended his Open era winning streak on hard courts to 56 when he beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 in the Dubai Open.

The Russian has often beaten the Swiss star in practice sessions but never in competition, and once again Federer showed what a supreme exponent of the art of match play he is.

Whenever there was a hint of trouble, he found a change of gear, and during a rally he had the capacity suddenly to prepare a little earlier for a ball, to produce an unexpectedly telling blow.

It was also Federer's best performance so far in the tournament, which is his first since winning the Australian Open more than a month ago, and increased the feeling that this will become the first title he has won four times.

"It's hard when you get a start like he did, to stay positive. He knows I'm going to pick up my game and then he's not going to get so many chances. In the second set I think I played great tennis and I'm very happy with the way I played this time," the World No. 1 added.

Petrova in last four

In Doha, Martina Hingis reached the semifinals for the third time in her last five tournaments, beating sixth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 7-6(7), 6-2 to advance to the last four of the $600,000 Qatar Open.

The 25-year-old Swiss needed 96 minutes to subdue Kuznetsova. She will now face top seed Amelie Mauresmo of France, who beat Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-4, 6-0.

In other quarterfinals, second seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia beat Li Na of China 6-4, 6-4, while Ai Sugiyama of Japan overcame the challenge of Julia Schruff of Germany 6-3, 6-2.

After winning the first-set tiebreak, Hingis broke a limping Kuznetsova three times in the second set. "She is a powerful girl. She is deeper in the forehand. I tried not to give her too many opportunities and gave balls on her backhand. I was successful with my strategy," Hingis said.

Mauresmo, who already has three titles this year, broke Vinci three times in the second set to finish the match in less than an hour.

"The first set was a bit long on time. Once I settled into the match, I was under no pressure in the second set. I played my normal game and won easily," Mauresmo said.

Blake crushes Vahaly

In Las Vegas, James Blake advanced to the Tennis Channel Open quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Brian Vahaly. Blake, the No. 5 seed, needed only 51 minutes for the win over his fellow American, taking 62 of the match's 96 points.

The results:

At Dubai (ATP Dubai Open): Singles: Semifinals: Roger Federer bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2. Quarterfinals: Roger Federer bt Robin Vik 6-3, 6-2; Rainer Schuettler bt Bjorn Phau 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles: Quarterfinals: Martin Damm & Leander Paes bt Olivier & Christophe Rochus 6-2, 7-6(4).

At Doha (WTA Qatar Open): Quarterfinals: Ai Sugiyama bt Julia Schruff 6-3, 6-2; Nadia Petrova bt Li Na 6-4, 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo bt Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-0; Martina Hingis bt Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6(7), 6-2.

At Las Vegas (ATP Tennis Channel Open): Second round: Kenneth Carlsen bt Nicolas Kiefer walkover, Paul Goldstein bt Vince Spadea 6-2, 6-1; Xavier Malisse bt Peter Luczak 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; James Blake bt Brian Vahaly 6-1, 6-1.

At Mexico City (ATP & WTA Abierto Mexicano Telcel): Quarterfinals: Men: Luis Horna bt Agustin Calleri 6-3, 6-4; Gaston Gaudio bt Marcos Daniel 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; Juan Ignacio Chela bt Alessio Di Mauro 7-5, 6-2; Nicolas Almagro bt Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-2.

Women: Emilie Loit bt Natalia Gussoni 7-6(3), 6-3; Flavia Pennetta bt Maria Jose Martinez 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-0; Maret Ani bt Laura Pous Tio 7-5, 6-3; Anna-Lena Groenefeld bt Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1, 6-2. — Agencies

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