TENNIS/US Open Championships:Roger Federer, just two wins away from a 12th grand slam title to place him equal second on the all-time list alongside Australia's Roy Emerson, was asked how he felt about Nikolay Davydenko whom he will meet in tomorrow's men's semi-finals.
"I have a pretty good record against him," he said. "I've never lost."
Nine meetings, nine wins for Federer. So not much point wasting your money on the Russian although any talk of betting is a sore point. Davydenko faces further questioning and a possible ban after defaulting in Poland in July during a match that saw 10 times the normal amount wagered on the outcome.
Understandably he is weary of the constant questioning here although it has not affected his play. The number four seed has won all his five matches in straight sets and while he has never beaten the Swiss player their recent matches have been tight, edgy affairs.
Andy Roddick was clobbered by Federer, losing for the 14th time in 15 attempts. The American threw everything but the Empire State building at the world number one but to no avail as Federer won 7-6, 7-6, 6-2.
"I played my ass off but against the greatest player of his generation it was not good enough," said Roddick.
The American served 14 aces, reaching 146 mph with no double faults and did not have any break points against him until after the second tie-break, which broke his spirit.
"Andy was serving out of his tree," said Federer. The problem for Roddick was that when it mattered the most, the great man read it, leaf, branch and root.
Spaniard David Ferrer eased past Argentine 20th seed Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, the best grand slam showing of his career. The 15th seed, who beat Rafael Nadal in the previous round, wrapped up victory in two hours, four minutes to become only the fourth Spaniard to make the last four at the US Open in the open era.
Chela had won both their two previous meetings but Ferrer served superbly, ripping through the first two sets, though he did need seven set points to win the second.
The Argentine, in his second grand slam quarter-final, cut down his unforced errors in the third set but Ferrer broke in the 11th game and served out to set up a clash with third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia or Spanish 17th seed Carlos Moya.
Venus Williams beat the Serb Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 and today faces Justin Henin in the women's semi-finals.
In the women's doubles Taiwan's Chan Yung-jan and Chuang Chia-jung reached the final with a 6-2 7-6 victory over Agnes Szavay of Hungary and Czech Vladimira Ulihrova.
Fifth seeds Chan and Chuang eased through the first set and held on to win the tiebreak 7-5 and reach their second grand-slam final, having been runners-up at the Australian Open in January.
The Taiwanese will play seventh seeds Nathalie Dechy of France and Russian Dinara Safina.
Chan and Chuang are the first Taiwanese pair to reach a final at the US Open.
"Itwould be good for our national tennis (if we won the title)."
Men's Singles: Quarter-finals: (1) Roger Federer (Switzerland ) bt (5) Andy Roddick (USA) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) 6-2, (4) Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) bt (10) Tommy Haas (Germany) 6-3 6-3 6-4, (15) David Ferrer (Spain) bt (20) Juan Ignacio Chela (Argentina) 6-2 6-3 7-5.
Women's Singles: Quarter-final: (12) Venus Williams (USA) bt (3) Jelena Jankovic (Ser) 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
Men's Doubles: Semi-final: (9) Lukas Dlouhy (Cze) and Pavel Vizner (Cze) bt (5) Paul Hanley (Aus) and Kevin Ullyett (Zim) 6-4 6-2.
Women's Doubles: Semi-finals: (5) Yung-Jan Chan (Tpe) and Chia-Jung Chuang (Tpe) bt (14) Agnes Szavay (Hun) and Vladimira Uhlirova (Cze) 6-2 7-6 (7-5), (7) Nathalie Dechy (Fra) and Dinara Safina (Rus) bt (6) Kveta Peschke (Cze) and Rennae Stubbs (Aus) 6-4 6-4.
