11 July 2004	Sunday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

GSTAAD, July 10: Wimbledon champion and world number one Roger Federer admitted he was beginning to feel the pace of a gruelling season after reaching the final of the 544,750-euro Swiss Open on Saturday.

Swiss top seed Federer won his third match in two days with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over Italian qualifier Potito Starace and will now take on Russia's Igor Andreev who put out third seeded German Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6).

Federer, who wrapped up his second Wimbledon title last weekend with a four sets win against Andy Roddick, was again at the mercy of the weather on Saturday with his semifinal marred by a 50-minute rain interruption when he led 4-1 in the decider.

But the Swiss ace came out and completed the task.

"I'm really, really tired," said Federer, who will be bidding for a seventh trophy this season when he meets Andreev on Sunday on the high-altitude alpine clay.

"Right now, I'd rather skip a stretching or massage session in favour of a hot bath."

For the 20-year-old Andreev, the world 62, it will be his first major final.

Andreev in now 12-4 in his last five tournaments including the fourth round at Roland Garros, where he knocked out holder Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round.

Federer has won 24 of his last 25 matches, a run which has included trophies at Hamburg, Halle and Wimbledon. He stands only one title short this season of already duplicating his seven earned during 2003.

But out of three previous finals at Swiss events, he's come up empty handed, losing twice in his hometown of Basel and in Gstaad last year against Jiri Novak.

Federer has won all six of his finals this season.

Semifinal results:

Igor Andreev (Russia) b Rainer Schuettler (Germany) 6-2 3-6 7-6; Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Potito Starace (Italy) 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Rusedski in semis

NEWPORT (Rhode Island): Britain's Greg Rusedski, the only former champion in the field, advanced to the semifinals on Friday with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 victory over American Jeff Morrison at the ATP Hall of Fame Tennis Championship.

Rusedski, who leads all active players in grasscourt wins with 76, captured the first of his 13 ATP Tour titles here in 1993.

He also won on grass at Nottingham in 1997 and 2003.

In the semifinals, Rusedski will face No. 8 seed Antony Dupuis of France, who ousted American Alex Bogomolov 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Dupuis won his first career title earlier this year at Milan.

In the top half of the draw, top seed Vincent Spadea of the United States and No. 3 seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria were upset.

Spadea, who earned his first career title earlier this year at Scottsdale, was bounced by No. 7 seed Alexander Popp of Germany, 6-2, 6-2. Melzer, last year's runner-up, fared no better, falling to No. 5 Cyril Saulnier of France 6-1, 7-5.

Popp improved to 2-0 lifetime against Spadea, also beating the American last year at Nottingham. The 6ft 7in German reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last week and has a 22-9 career mark on grass.

Saulnier and Popp are each looking to advance to their first ATP Tour final.

Results:

Quarterfinals: Cyril Saulnier (FRA) bt Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-1, 7-5; Alexander Popp (GER) bt Vincent Spadea (USA) 6-2, 6-2; Antony Dupuis (FRA) bt Alex Bogomolov (USA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; Greg Rusedski (GBR) bt Jeff Morrison (USA) 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.-Agencies