BASEL (Switzerland), Oct 26: Roger Federer will take on David Nalbandian in the Swiss Indoors final after the Basel-born, world No 2’s bid for a third straight hometown title continued with an easy semi-final win on Saturday.

The top seeded Federer booked his place in Sunday’s decider with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over unseeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez while second seeded Argentine Nalbandian saw off compatriot and Davis Cup team-mate Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-4.

Nalbandian also came through a one-sided match after benefiting considerably from the third-seeded Del Potro’s difficulties with a lingering toe injury.

SURPRISE FINALIST

ST PETERSBURG (Russia): Top seed Andy Murray will defend his St Petersburg Open title against surprise finalist Andrey Golubev after thrashing Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 6-3 in the semi-final on Saturday.

The 150th-ranked Kazakh qualifier Golubev, who upset former world No 1 Marat Safin in round two, crushed Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-0 in 54 minutes to reach Sunday’s final.

CONTRASTING WINS

LINZ (Austria): Ana Ivanovic and Vera Zvonareva had contrasting victories on Saturday to reach the final of the Linz Open.

Top seeded Serbian Ivanovic battled for over two hours to beat third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, while Russian second seed Zvonareva needed only 51 minutes to trounce sixth seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-0, 6-1.—Reuters