September 09, 2006	Saturday	Sha'aban 15, 1427

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NEW YORK, Sept 8: Top seed Roger Federer lost his first set of the 2006 US Open but remained on course for his third consecutive title with a four-set quarter-final triumph over resolute American James Blake on Thursday.

Federer's hard-fought 7-6 6-0 6-7 6-4 triumph over Blake moves the Swiss maestro into the semi-finals against Russian Nikolay Davydenko and marks the 10th straight grand slam the world's best player has reached the last four.

Seventh seed Davydenko lost the first two sets of his quarter-final with German Tommy Haas before battling back for a 4-6 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4 triumph earlier on Thursday.

But Federer is playing incredibly well and it would take a super-human effort to keep the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion from winning his ninth career grand slam.

Fifth seed Blake squandered three set points in the opener before ultimately losing the tiebreaker 9-7. With one set under his belt, Federer raised his game and needed only 22 minutes to claim the second 6-0.

Playing before his hometown crowd at a sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium, Blake fought Federer gamely but remained winless against the Swiss in five career matches.

Blake broke Federer's serve at 4-5 in the third set to stay in the match and won the tiebreaker 11-9 after the Swiss uncharacteristically sprayed several forehands wide.

The tiebreaker marked the first set that Blake had ever won against Federer, but the champion responded with two early breaks in the final set before settling in to win the match.

Federer blasted 59 winners in the two-hour, 47-minute contest, while Blake managed only 40.

In the other men's semi-final on Saturday, American Andy Roddick, the 2003 champion, will face Russian Mikhail Youzhny, who pulled the upset of the tournament on Wednesday when he ousted number two seed Rafael Nadal.

The women's semi-finals will be on Friday when top seed Amelie Mauresmo faces number three Maria Sharapova, while number two Justine Henin-Hardenne takes on Serbian 19th seed Jelena Jankovic.

The 28-year-old Haas played superbly in the opening two sets against Davydenko, looking as if the fifth-set tiebreaks in his two previous matches would have no impact on his play.

But Haas began to lose steam in the third set, giving Davydenko an incentive to keep grinding it out in his bid to reach the Open semi-finals for the first time.

After trading breaks at the start of the deciding set, Davydenko broke twice to lead 5-2 but Haas saved a match point and broke back and trimmed the deficit to 5-4.

Haas then had two break points to level at 5-5 but the 25-year-old

Davydenko now takes on Federer, against whom he plays reasonably well despite losing all seven of their career matches. The Russian has taken a set from Federer in four of those matches.

“You need to think you can beat him,” said Davydenko.

Thursday’s results:

Men's singles (Quarter-finals): Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) bt Tommy Haas (GER) 4-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Roger Federer (SUI) bt James Blake (USA) 7-6 (9/7), 6-0, 6-7 (9/11), 6-4

Men's doubles (Quarter-finals): Ashley Fisher (AUS)/Tripp Phillips (USA) bt Paul Goldstein/Tim Thomas (USA) 7-5, 6-4

Martin Damm (CZE)/Leandes Paes (IND) bt Leos Friedl (CZE)/Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1

Women's doubles (Quarter-finals): Lisa Raymond (USA)/Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Martina Navratilova (USA)/Nadia Petrova (RUS) 7-6 (7/1), 6-3; Dinara Safina (RUS)/Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) bt Cara Black (ZIM)/Rennae Stubbs (AUS) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3); Nathalie Dechy (FRA)/Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP)/Paola Suarez (ARG) 7-5, 6-3

Mixed Doubles (Quarter-finals): Martina Navratilova (USA)/Bob Bryan (USA) bt Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)/Frantisek Cermak (CZE) 6-3, 6-4; Meghann Shaughnessy (USA)/Justin Gimelstob (USA) bt Vania King (USA)/Vincent Spadea (USA) 6-4, 1-6, 10-7.—Agencies