MMMM 2006 : 2006


(Daily Review) Federer, Gonzalez celebrate convincing wins to reach Madrid final

Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez blew past opponents in less than an hour apiece Saturday to set up a final at the Madrid Masters tilted heavily in the Swiss player's favour.



(DPA) World number 1 Federer owns a commanding 7-0 margin in the series, having lost just two sets to the Chilean.

Federer hammered out a semi-final win to beat David Nalbandian for the seventh time in eight matches Saturday, dominating 6-4, 6-0 to book his place in a 14th final this season.

Gonzalez, losing finalist last week indoors in Vienna, rode a wave of crowd support over Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-1.

Berdych was jeered from the start after gesturing to the crowd of 10,000 to be silent moments after putting out Spanish hero Rafael Nadal in an emotional Friday quarter-final.

The Czech insisted against that he had done nothing wrong: "Maybe the mistake is to beat Nadal in Spain. This is like a dream, it's never happened to me. This is not a tennis crowd.

"I never provoked anyone, there is nothing to be said."

Gonzalez admitted he's got a huge job against Federer, who stands 81-5 on the season and is one win away from a tenth title.

"I have to got for it against him from the start, that's the only way for me. In our last match, I lost the first set in like 20 minutes."

World number 1 Federer showed his pedigree with his 18th straight match victory as he beat a fatigued Nalbandian. who needed three hours to defeat Marat Safin on Friday.

"I was tired from my match before and you don't have a chance against Federer in that condition," said Nalbandian, standing sixth in the race for a season-ending Masters Cup place next month.

Federer gave himself full marks after another flawless performance. "It's been a very solid and good tournament so far. This was by far my best match.

"I hope that with the best-of-five match tomorrow I can have a good start and hopefully roll away."

Federer couldn't help but be pleased with his overwhelming showing and short afternoon's work.

"He's obviously the best return player I've played all week. It was an excellent match for a semi-final, that's for sure.

"The second set was phenomenal and I thought this is when I could start to hit freely, hit the returns more, take more chances. It all worked out, it was great."

Federer has never won in Madrid and is playing the tournament for the first time since 2003.




Sent News to a Friend:
From*
To*
Comments