October 22, 2006	Sunday	Ramazan 28, 1427

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MADRID, Oct 21: World number one Roger Federer will meet Chile's Fernando Gonzalez in the final of the Madrid Masters after the two players notched up emphatic victories in their respective matches on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Federer overwhelmed Argentine David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-0 with his customary brand of precision tennis to reach his 14th final of the year and notch up his seventh win in the last eight meetings between the two players.

Tenth seed Gonzalez reached his first Masters Series final when he romped to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Tomas Berdych who was unable to cope with the hostile home crowd.

The Czech number one folded under the pressure, while Gonzalez gave him no respite as he pounded him with his pin-point serve and wrapped up victory in 52 minutes.

The only tournament this year in which Federer has failed to make the final was the Masters Series event in Cincinnati in August when he lost to British number one Andy Murray in the second round.

World number four Nalbandian looked jaded after two tough three-set matches on his way to the semi-finals and was never able to match the top seed who wrapped up victory in under an hour to take his winning streak to 18 matches.

Federer, bidding for a 10th title of the season, issued an early statement of intent by winning the opening service game to love, while Nalbandian looked sluggish after his tough path to the semi-finals and lost his serve in the fourth.

In the second set the Swiss refused to let Nalbandian off the hook and rattled through the games in just 21 minutes to chalk up one of his most emphatic victories over the player who beat him in the final of last year's Masters Cup.

Berdych beat defending champion and local hero Rafael Nadal in the quarters, provoking the anger of the world number two and local fans when he put his finger to his lips to silence a raucous home crowd after he won the match.

The crowd vented their anger more once when the Czech walked on to court on Saturday, jeering his every move, whistling as he began serving and cheering when he opened with a double fault.

The 21-year-old was clearly rattled and dropped his serve in the opening game, while Gonzalez grew in confidence as he enjoyed the support from the crowd, breaking again in the ninth to take the first set.

Gonzalez, who had beaten the Czech on their previous two meetings, kept him on the rack in the second to storm to an easy victory.

Results:

Semi-finals: 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 4-David Nalbandian (Argentina) 6-4, 6-0; 10-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat 11-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 6-3, 6-1.

ZURICH OPEN

ZURICH: Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova upset third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-4, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the final of the Zurich Open.

Her opponent in Sunday's showdown will be second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, who reached her sixth final of the year when she defeated unseeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 7-6, 6-2.

Kuznetsova was a pale reflection of the woman who played brilliantly to dispose of Martina Hingis in Friday's quarter-finals, finding difficulty with her serve and failing to maintain the rallies against a confident and consistent opponent.

Hantuchova broke to lead 2-1 when Kuznetsova dumped a smash into the net and although Kuznetsova levelled at 4-4 she then hit two successive double-faults to concede her serve again and leave Hantuchova serving for the set.

Hantuchova again broke for 2-1 in the second set when Kuznetsova netted a forehand, and the Russian called for medical attention to her right foot after Hantuchova held serve for 4-2.

When played resumed after several minutes Hantuchova broke for 5-2 and went on to close out the match on her third match point.

Sharapova, who will try to add to her US Open, Indian Wells and San Diego triumphs, had not performed at her best throughout the week. Once again she played an erratic match against an opponent who served well and played competently from the baseline but lacked any weapon to cause the Russian real problems.

Sharapova dropped only two points on serve until, at 4-4, Srebotnik donated four errors to lose serve to love. Instead of building on the gift, however, Sharapova responded in kind and allowed Srebotnik to level at 5-5.

Srebotnik held a set point at 6-5 which Sharapova saved with her fifth ace and the Russian went on to take the tiebreak 7-3.

A crosscourt winner gave Sharapova a break to lead 2-0 in the second set but Srebotnik broke back in the fifth game and Sharapova received a warning for coaching.

Raising her aggression level, Sharapova broke again for 4-2 by forcing a backhand error and again for the match when she forced Srebotnik to net a backhand volley at close range.

Results:

Semi-finals: Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) beat 3-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-4, 6-2; 2-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.—Reuters