Tennis: Federer and Nadal line up another duel

LONDON - With perfect symmetry, Roger Federer will entertain Rafael Nadal on his favorite tennis court on Sunday after the world's two best players won their Wimbledon semi-finals comfortably today.

A month ago Nadal played and beat Federer in the French Open final on his own preferred surface of clay at Roland Garros but the Mallorcan will be a clear underdog.

In the last four, triple defending champion Federer thrashed 34-year-old Swede Jonas Bjorkman 6-2 6-0 6-2. It was the heaviest Wimbledon semi-final beating dished out since the abolition of the challenge round 84 years ago.

Nadal downed Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-1 7-5 6-3, a victory that showed he had come to terms with a grasscourt surface on which until a month ago he was considered a novice.

The 20-year-old second seed has won five of his six matches at this Wimbledon in straight sets and he will have the confidence of knowing he has beaten Federer in four finals already this year.

None though, were on grass, where the gulf between the Swiss and the rest of the men's players is at its greatest.

Federer has yet to drop a set in the tournament and has won a professional era record 47 matches in a row on grass.

"It was flawless," the top seed said, and there was no disputing that after his 77-minute exhibition in a match delayed two hours by rain.

"It's just a beautiful feeling. When you can dominate an opponent, it's always sort of nice. But especially in the semi-finals of a grand slam, it's even better I think."

Bjorkman was an admiring spectator for most of it as Federer struck a series of shots that other players pull off only in their dreams.

"Today I felt like I played a guy who was as near as perfection you can play the game," said Bjorkman. "I had the best seat in the house, in a way. He just makes it look very simple."

Emotional Nadal

Nadal became the first Spaniard to reach the men's final since Manuel Santana in 1966 with a victory over Australian Open runner-up Baghdatis that was just as impressive, if not quite so effortless.

He was able to match Baghdatis's court covering ability and eventually wore the Cypriot out with his greater weight of shot.

Nadal smashed away match point before falling to his knees and pumping both his well muscled arms in his moment of triumph, almost as if he had won the final itself.

Sportingly he then walked over to applaud Baghdatis's band of supporters whose enthusiasm has matched their hero's.

Nadal will be playing in only his third grand slam final on Sunday.

"I'm emotional," he said. "I'm amazed to even be in the final. It was a tough match but I played with a lot of concentration."

Baghdatis said: "I played quite well but I didn't find the solution to win. I didn't take my chances. But it's been fun being here. I've started to like grass."

- REUTERS