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FEDERER

Federer ousts Murray to reach Cincinnati semis

Roger Federer calmly worked through a second-set deficit to defeat Andy Murray 6-3, 7-5 on Friday for a place in the semifinals of the ATP Tour's Cincinnati Masters.

Federer ousts Murray to reach Cincinnati semis
Photo: Jonathan Moorte/Getty Images North America/AFP

The 33-year-old Swiss, a five-time champion here, will play for a spot in his second Masters 1000 final in as many weeks on Saturday against Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, a winner over Italy's Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-0.

Second seed Federer took 93 minutes to storm to victory after trailing 4-1 in the second set.

Federer is bidding for the 80th title of his career. The Wimbledon finalist has now won 16 of his last 18 matches after playing last week's Toronto final.

"I started well, I was hitting the ball well," said the 17-time Grand Slam champion.

"I was the more aggressive player out there. I was having more impact from the baseline

"I deserved that first set. In the second I lost a little rhythm and everything got tougher for me.

"I got a little down on myself after the second break but I knew it's not been so easy for him to close out matches. I stole that second set in the end."

Federer won four second-set games to take a 5-4 lead after winning the opening set.

He then earned a match point on the Scot's serve in the next game, clinching the victory from a Murray forehand into the net.

"I was obviously well up in the second and blew it," Murray said.

"It's a shame." 

Federer owns a 5-0 record over Raonic, with their last meeting coming at Wimbledon.

"This court suits him the best. He gets a bit more time to set up shots." said Federer.

"But it's simple against a big server; you have to focus on your own game, keep him moving and use variety.

"It's a tough match-up but I've done well against him and I hope for one more like that tomorrow."

Federer's first break in the opening set Friday came on his seventh opportunity, with the Swiss saying that he never gave up on his game.

"I was playing too well to get down on myself, I took the missed break points as a good sign. I stayed positive out there," he said.

"I felt this could be a good night for me and I wasn't mistaken."

Murray, still without a title since his emotional Wimbledon triumph of 2013, is now level 11-11 with Federer as he lost serve five times to the Swiss.

Raonic will be playing his fourth Masters semi-final of the season when he meets Federer.

He beat Fognini with a modest seven aces but broke the quirky Italian six times.

At the top of the draw, France's Julien Benneteau won 12 of the last 15 games to stun Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the first Masters semi-final of his career.

Benneteau made a quick recovery after losing the first set, completely turning the match around.

He finished off the victory with an ace on the first of two match points.

The Frenchman will play Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer, who beat countryman Tommy Robredo 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, a day after the 16th seed beat sluggish Novak Djokovic.

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TENNIS

Federer pockets 100th win at Wimbledon

Roger Federer racked up his 100th match win at Wimbledon on Wednesday as he reached his 13th semifinal at the All England Club and a duel with old rival Rafael Nadal.

Federer pockets 100th win at Wimbledon
Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP
Eight-time champion Federer recovered from losing the opening set to defeat Japan's Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to book his place in the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the 45th time.
   
The 37-year-old is also the oldest man to make the last-four of a major since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.
   
Federer will now face Nadal at Wimbledon for the first time since their epic 2008 final.
   
“We have a lot of information on Rafa and so does he about us. I know people always hype it up in a big way,” said Federer.
   
“They did that again in Paris this year (when Nadal won their semifinal in straight sets). I'd love to play against him here at Wimbledon. 
   
“But I go about it like every other match.”
   
Federer and Nadal have met 39 times in their careers but just three times at Wimbledon.
   
The Swiss star won their first two encounters in the 2006 and 2007 finals before Nadal famously triumphed in 2008 in a five-set epic which is widely regarded as the greatest Slam final ever played.
   
Federer said he was unaware that he had become the first player ever to win 100 matches at the same Slam.
   
“A fan told me congratulations on your hundredth win and I thought, oh yes, you're right!”
   
 
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