Djokovic, Federer reach Basel semis
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and former ranked Swiss great Roger Federer were quarterfinal winners Friday at the $1.72 million Swiss Indoors Basel tennis event.
In the marquee scheduled matchup of the day, a third-seeded Federer handled seventh-seeded fellow former No. 1 Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-2 in just 64 minutes. Federer did not allow even one break-point chance for the overmatched Roddick on Day 5.
Federer is now a lopsided 21-2 lifetime against Roddick, including a 4-0 record here in his hometown of Basel. The Swiss icon also topped Roddick here last year in the semifinals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 30-year-old Federer has won four of the last five titles in Basel, including a victory over Djokovic in last year's finale.
Federer's semifinal opponent on Saturday will be his good friend and fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka. Federer is 9-1 all-time versus Wawrinka, including a 3-0 mark this year.
The reigning U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Djokovic came from behind to beat 2005 Basel runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 at St. Jakobshalle. The 2009 Basel champion Djokovic converted all three of his break-point opportunities for the victory, which took 1 hour,39 minutes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Djokovic is now 6-0 lifetime against Baghdatis, which includes a third-round victory at the All England Club this past summer.
The Serbian star is now an amazing 67-3 for the year.
The high-flying Djokovic returned to action this week after being sidelined with a back injury since mid-September. He was last year's Basel runner-up to the hometown hero Federer and upset Federer in the final here two years ago.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I started slowly, no life on the court, and he (Baghdatis) took his chances," Djokovic said. "My body is still getting used to this competition mode. I have to stay patient."
Up next for Djokovic will be 32nd-ranked rising Japanese Kei Nishikori, who outlasted Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 on Day 5.
"It's a great feeling to reach three semifinals in six weeks," Nishikori said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Switzerland's second-best player, the 19th-ranked Wawrinka, secured a final-four berth by blasting German Florian Mayer 6-2, 6-2 in 64 minutes.
The 2011 Basel champion will collect $450,000.