MELBOURNE, 29 January 2004 — Fluid and ferocious in equal measure, Roger Federer felled his nemesis David Nalbandian yesterday to reach his first Australian Open semifinal.
The 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory was a first grand slam victory over the burly Argentine for Wimbledon champion Federer and sweet revenge for last year’s US Open fourth-round loss.
That defeat in New York had been a fifth straight loss to Nalbandian. Yesterday’s thumping win under the stars set Federer up for a sizzling semifinal against third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.
“It’s so much fun to stay for two weeks at the same place,” he laughed on court. “After what I experienced at Wimbledon I want to experience that again. This is a great start to the season.”
French Open champion Ferrero earlier showed no sign of the elbow, shoulder or hamstring injuries which had threatened to scupper him earlier in the tournament as he fought off stylish Hicham Arazi 6-1, 7-6, 7-6.
The only way the Spaniard can now prevent Federer from becoming world number one for the first time on Monday is by beating him in the semis and going on to win the title.
In the women’s draw, Kim Clijsters fought off a niggling ankle injury and a bout of paralyzing nerves to squeeze into the semis with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Russian Anastasia Myskina.
The Belgian world No. 2 handled the jitters better on a sunny Melbourne Park centre court, while Myskina admitted she had lost the match before it had even started.
Clijsters, who said she will wait until she is given the “all clear” on her ankle before taking the court for her last-four clash, is due to face Patty Schnyder. The Swiss ended Lisa Raymond’s giant-killing run with a 7-6, 6-3 win.
Federer attacked from the start, lashing backhands and forehands to the back of the court and ghosting in to the net for the kill.
The Argentine, who had also beaten Federer in the fourth round here 12 months ago, has been the form player this year and a mammoth obstacle to scale.
Eighth seed Nalbandian had not lost a set coming into the quarterfinals but was left screaming in frustration as Federer hustled him point by point.
The stylish Swiss broke in the last game of each of the first two sets to stretch into the lead but in the third the tables were turned, Nalbandian broke to stay in the match.
Cheered on by compatriot and former women’s world number one Martina Hingis — in Melbourne as a commentator — Federer broke early in the fourth.
Slashing winners beyond the reach of the Argentine’s reach, the second seed closed out, pummeling a serve down on match point that Nalbandian sent long.
“I served well tonight, maybe that was the key,” the 22-year-old said.
Clijsters beat Myskina in an edgy affair.
Despite her injury, Clijsters said it would take a lot to sideline her now that she is only two matches away from her maiden grand slam crown.
“I’m going to have a week off anyway after this. I might as well go for it and give myself a shot,” she said.
“But on the other hand, if I can’t walk tomorrow then it’s stupid to go out there. But it’s something that I’ll have to see tomorrow.”
