NEW YORK, Sept 10: Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet for his 10th US Open semi-final, where he will be facing compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka.
The 34-year-old, bidding to become the oldest champion in the US Open in 45 years, on Wednesday took just 87 minutes to beat Gasquet 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, reports Xinhua.
The 17-time Major champion fired 50 winners and 16 aces and did not face a single break-point. Federer hasn�t dropped a set in the tournament in five rounds and has been broken just twice.
But the world No.2 will be wary of the danger posed by Wawrinka, who defeated him in their last meeting at the French Open this season.
�Stan played wonderfully against me in Paris and I was happy for him that he won the title. He really deserved it,� added Federer.
�He has worked so hard and really improved. I am happy to play him here for the first time. It�s cool for us and Switzerland.�
Wawrinka reached the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 rout of South Africa�s Kevin Anderson.
�Against Roger, I will need to play my best to win. It�s a big challenge but I am ready,� said Wawrinka.
Federer believes napping, as well as the routine of practice and gym work, is just as crucial as he enters his 10th New York semi-final and 20th career clash against his compatriot.
He is so fond of sleep that Federer will look to get in as much as 10 hours a day before Friday�s semi-final, where the winner will face either world number one Novak Djokovic or defending champion Marin Cilic in Sunday�s championship match.
�Sleeping has become quite important,� said Federer, the father of two sets of twins.
�I make sure I sleep enough, as well. Like when I went to bed after the John Isner match (in the fourth round) it got quite late and I couldn�t sleep quite as much as I wanted to.
�Because I believe it�s really the sleep that gives you energy again down the road. That�s why the next two days are very important for me in terms of sleeping.�
If the approach for such a high-stakes clash seems risky, then Federer is showing no signs of nerves as he moves two wins from an 18th major and his first in more than three years. � Agencies
