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Its semi-final time in Madrid with Rafael Nadal booking another date with his closest rival on clay this season Novak Djokovic, and the quintessential warrior Roger Federer setting up a meeting with new kid on the block Juan Martin del Potro.

World No. 2 Roger Federer was the first man in the semis as he edged past his old time rival Andy Roddick in a little over two hours, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-1 at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open.

Having battled on 19 previous occasions, and with Federer maintaining a 17-2 advantage over the no. 6 seed, Roger was an odds on favourite going into this match.

Roddick seemed a bit off his game on the slow European clay as he wasted little energy going for that booming first serve, instead rolling it in right through the first set. Though he was rewarded with a high first serve percentage, his serve lacked its usual venom and Federer was quick to pounce on it, breaking the American twice on course to winning the first set.

With the level of tennis improving significantly in the second set, we witnessed no breaks and the set headed into a tie-break. Federer seemed to have the match in his pocket as he raced to a 3-0 lead, before a spirited fight back from Roddick saw him win five points in a row and eventually the tie-break itself 7-5.

The final set however was a bit of an anti-climax as Roger lifted his game, especially his reading of the Roddick first serve, breaking twice to take the set 6-1 and with it the match.

After the match, Federer said: "I think Andy was mixing up his serve very well and I think I came up with some nice points," said the Swiss former world No.1. I'm happy with the way I played today. I should have or could have won in straights but that is what happens when you play Andy sometimes. I bounced back well in the third and I played well."

On Saturday Roger will be desperate to reach his first final since the Australian Open in January when he squares off against world no. 5 Juan Martin del Potro, who he incidentally hammered in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park in a classic match of teacher vs. student. Roger put in three remarkable sets of tennis conceding just three games to oust the Argetine youngster (read more).

What will make Federer even more wary of their meeting is that inspite of having beaten Del Potro in each of their last four meetings, Del Potro has defeated Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray enroute to the semis, two players who have had Roger's number already this season.

In the quarters Del Potro made it a horrible 22nd birthday for Andy Murray as he ousted the Scotsman 7-6 (4), 6-3 thus depriving the tournament of having the world's top four players in what would have been a dream semi-final lineup.

Del Potro will take further heart from the fact that he faced a 0-3 record against Murray going into the quarterfinal and showed that history has no relevance on what happens in a two hour battle on court.

In the other semi-final Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will do battle on clay for the third time this season with Nadal a clear favourite having beaten the Serb in the final of Monte Carlo and Rome a few weeks ago.

Rafa beat compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 7-5 in front of a packed home crowd in the third quarterfinal of the night.

Novak Djokovic earlier beat wildcard Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 45 minutes to join Federer in the semi-finals.

Djokovic has been in outstanding form in Madrid this week, having lost his serve just once in the tournament so far.

"Obviously the mental edge is with the player who has won the most times, and that is Nadal (13-4)," said Djokovic before the semi. "But the more I play against him the more opportunities I have to prove something to myself and everybody else.

"Tomorrow I will try to take all my physical and mental strength and give a surprise."

Nadal meanwhile was his usual humble self, "Of course I prefer to be the favourite than not, there's no questions about that, I prefer to be the favourite,but in this tournament I don't even think that I'm the favourite, I'm one of four players in the semifinals and we'll see what happens."

Results:

Singles
Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6 4, 7 5
Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6 4, 6 4
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) d. Andy Murray (GBR) 7 6(4), 6 3
Roger Federer (SUI) d. Andy Roddick (USA) 7 5, 6(5) 7, 6 1

Doubles
D Nestor (CAN)/N Zimonjic (SRB) d. M Granollers (ESP)/T Robredo (ESP) 4 6, 6 3, 10 8
B Soares (BRA)/K Ullyett (ZIM) d. F Cermak (CZE)/M Mertinak (SVK) 7 5, 6 2
S Aspelin (SWE)/W Moodie (RSA) d. N Djokovic (SRB)/D Vemic (SRB) 4 6, 6 3, 11 9

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