25 Oct 2008

Federer strolls into hometown semi finals

11:17 am on 25 October 2008

Former world number one tennis player, Roger Federer, has dismissed unseeded Italian Simone Bolelli in straight sets in the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors to maintain his bid for a third straight triumph in his hometown tournament.

Federer's route to the final in Basel was also made easier when his expected semi-final opponent, American fourth seed James Blake, suffered an upset straight sets defeat by Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

Lopez, the world number 39, has lost all six of his previous meetings with Federer, who has yet to face a seeded player at this week's tournament.

The other semi-final will pit Argentine Davis Cup team-mates David Nalbandian and Juan Martin Del Potro against each other.