NEW YORK: Three-times defending champion Roger Federer outslugged Andy Roddick 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 in a near flawless display of power tennis to reach the US Open semifinals on Wednesday.

The first two sets featured sizzling skill from the service line as neither player lost a game on his own delivery and both sets went to tiebreaks.

Federer won the first 7-5 and the second 7-4 against the 2003 US Open champion and man he beat in last year's final to stay on course for a 12th grand slam title.

The Swiss world No 1 and top seed claimed the first service break of the high intensity match in the sixth game of the third set when Roddick sailed a backhand long to fall behind 4-2.

Federer broke Roddick again for good measure in the last game when the American netted a backhand on match point to end the contest after just over two hours.

The victory sent Federer into Saturday's semifinals against fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who beat 10th seed Tommy Haas 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

"I thought it was a very high standard match," Federer told reporters. "I was very pleased with my performance. I thought actually Andy also played very well.

"I could have been down two sets to love."

Federer struck 48 winners and 18 errors. Roddick was also brilliant, with 42 winners and just 10 errors. Roddick served 14 aces, one less than Federer.

"I'm happy the way I'm maintaining this great ability of coming up with the important wins when I have to," Federer added. "I'm at my best always at the slams. This is where the focus is the biggest."

Roddick was dejected after falling once again to Federer, yet the fifth-seeded American said he could hold his head high after the power-packed quarter-final.

"I'm not walking off with any questions in my head this time," said Roddick, who has lost 13 of 14 matches against the Swiss master. "I'm not walking with my head down.

"I played my ass off out there tonight. I played the right way."

Venus pushed

Two-times winner Venus Williams was pushed to the brink before beating Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, setting up an engaging semifinal with top-seed Justine Henin.

A trio of Russians - Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anna Chakvetadze and Nikolay Davydenko - have already booked their places in the last four.

Williams won the decisive tiebreak 7-4 under lights in sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium to snap a three-match losing streak against third seed Jankovic.

Despite a lopsided middle frame, neither player could manage a final-set service break. In the tiebreak, 12th seeded Williams bolted out to a 5-1 lead and held on to win.

"I would have loved to have a couple breaks in the third set and cruised," said Williams, who had lost to Jankovic in their two previous grand slam meetings. "She's a very good competitor, and anyone has to play a lot of balls against her.

"I just went for it all the time non-stop and it paid off."

Jankovic said she fought as hard as she could.

"I tried to do my best," the Serb said.

"I tried to win. But tonight, it didn't go my way. A few points in the tiebreaker I made some unforced errors.

"But you have to take the loss and have to go on."

Kuznetsova, the 2004 champion, ended the inspired run of Hungarian teenager Agnes Szavay to set up a match against Chakvetadze, while Davydenko beat German Tommy Haas and now faces the unenviable task of taking on Federer.

The 22-year-old Kuznetsova never lost her serve and needed only 67 minutes to beat the 18-year-old Szavay 6-1, 6-4.

"I had so much energy out there today and I thought I was nervous but I could control it," said fourth-seeded Kuznetsova.

"I feel so fresh for the semi-final. I'm ready to go to give it my best shot."

Sixth-seeded Chakvetadze, 20, advanced to the last four of a grand slam for the first time by overwhelming Israeli 18th seed Shahar Peer 6-4 6-1.

Fourth seed Davydenko won his fifth consecutive straight-sets match with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 quarterfinal victory against Haas, the 10th seed.

Agencies

(China Daily 09/07/2007 page23)