Shanghai, China (SportsNetwork.com) - Current world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and former top-ranked great Roger Federer will square off in Saturday's semifinals at the $4.2 million Shanghai Masters tennis event.
The top-seeded two-time reigning champion Djokovic eased past fifth-seeded Spaniard and 2011 Shanghai runner-up David Ferrer for a seventh straight time, 6-4, 6-2, while the third-seeded 2010 Shanghai runner-up Federer was tested in the first set on his way to dousing Frenchman Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 on the hardcourts at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.
Djokovic is undefeated in his last 13 matches in Shanghai and looking to lift the trophy here for the third year in a row. Already a Masters winner in Indian Wells, Miami and Rome this season, the 27-year-old star is chasing his 20th Masters title. He dismantled Tomas Berdych for the China Open championship last week in Beijing.
The 27-year-old Djokovic, who beat Juan Martin del Potro in last year's Shanghai finale, has won his last 29 matches on Chinese soil.
Djokovic and Federer will meet Saturday in a rematch of their Wimbledon final, which was won by the Serb in five splendid sets back in July.
The 33-year-old Federer is 18-17 lifetime against Djokovic, but the Serb has won five of their last seven meetings. The two stalwarts have split four matchups this year and split their previous 26 meetings (13-13) on hardcourts.
Federer topped Djokovic in a semifinal in Shanghai in 2010.
"Roger is one of the best players ever in the game," said Djokovic. "There is no clear favorite. I think every time we play against each other, it's a thriller. It's really a big challenge for both of us. We need to bring our 'A' game in order to win."
Saturday's other semifinal will pit former top-10 Frenchman Gilles Simon against Spanish left-hander Feliciano Lopez. Simon upset a sixth-seeded Berdych 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-0, while Lopez came back to beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to record his 200th career hardcourt victory.
This week's big winner will collect $798,450.
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