MELBOURNE (AP) — Roger Federer advanced to the Australian Open semifinals for the ninth consecutive year with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 disposal of Juan Martin del Potro, one of only two men who've beaten him in a Grand Slam final.
After celebrating his 1,000th tourlevel match with an emphatic win Tuesday over the 2009 US Open champion, Federer might have to beat the other one – No. 2 Rafael Nadal – to reach the final.
The win over Del Potro, sealed with a trademark backhand winner, set up the prospect of a semifinal against 10-time major winner Nadal, who was playing No. 7-ranked Tomas Berdych in a night quarterfinal.
Federer and Nadal are on the same half of the draw at a major for the first time since 2005, and No. 1-ranked and defending champion Novak Djokovic is on the other side.
The women's semifinal on the top half of the draw was decided when defending champion Kim Clijsters beat No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, 6-3, 7-6 (4), after third-seeded Victoria Azarenka fended off Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets.
Clijsters has needed continual treatment since Sunday, when she injured her left ankle and had to save four match points in her fourth-round win over Li Na, a rematch of the 2011 final. The 28-year-old Belgian's win on Tuesday means Wozniacki will lose the top ranking, with Azarenka one of three women who could finish at No. 1 in Melbourne.
“Yeah, instead of really focusing on the match you're focusing on trying to get the ankle as good as possible,” Clijsters said of her interrupted preparation.
Federer had no such worries, using his time to work out how to defuse the big forehand of Del Potro, who had beaten him in two of their previous three matches. He did a stunning job of shutting down the Argentine player's big weapons, relying on his exceptional speed to the ball and full range of shots to ensure 11th-seeded Del Potro never had a chance to get settled.
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