Saturday, 10 May, 2008

Even with long-time nemesis Rafael Nadal out of the way, Roger Federer could not break through at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

The top-seeded Swiss superstar was beaten 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (9/7) by unseeded Radek Stepanek in Friday's quarter-finals of the claycourt event.

Nadal has denied Federer seven claycourt titles during the past three years, including a win here in the 2006 championship, but the second-seeded Spaniard was ousted in the second round earlier this week.

After dropping a first-set tie-break, Federer fell behind 4-1 in the second set, but battled back to level at 5-5 and eventually pushed the set to the limit. Federer squandered leads in both breakers, 3-1 in the first and 4-1 in the second.

The 29-year-old Stepanek will face world number three Novak Djokovic on Saturday. The 20-year-old Serbian advanced when unseeded Nicolas Almagro retired from their match while trailing 6-1 1-0.

With Federer in the draw, Stanislas Wawrinka was not the Swiss player observers expected to see in the semi-finals.

But that is exactly where he is following his 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/5) 6-1 upset of eighth-seeded American James Blake.

The 22-year-old, who will next face Andy Roddick, has been building momentum during the past month, having also reached the semi-finals in Barcelona last weekend.

Sixth-seeded Roddick advanced with a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7/4) victory over 14th seed Tommy Robredo of Spain.

Federer upset in Rome quarters
Ivanovic advances in Berlin
Henin withdraws from Rome event
Madrid to host Davis Cup clash
Aussie duo to play in Hopman Cup
Murray and Mirnyi crash out
Ex-Wimbledon champs set for Eastbourne
Murray bows out