Federer to meet Tsonga in Qatar Open semifinals
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer remain on course to meet in the Qatar Open final after both won their quarterfinals in straight sets on Thursday.
Federer, a two-time champion in Doha, routed sixth-seeded Viktor Troicki 6-2, 6-2 in just 65 minutes and will face third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals. Top-ranked Nadal was given more of a test by Latvia's Ernests Gulbis before he came through 7-6 (3), 6-3.
"It is always a difficult match against him," Nadal said. "You have to play special against him. I did my best today and I am happy about it. ... I pushed him hard and broke him many times. I am playing well. My target here is to win."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nadal plays defending champion Nikolay Davydenko or Ivo Karlovic on Friday.
The Spaniard broke Gulbis in the fourth game of the first set and, although Gulbis broke back, the 22-year-old Latvian could not maintain his form in the tiebreaker and Nadal won four points in a row to take it.
On Wednesday, Nadal dropped the second set 6-0 against Lukas Lacko after taking the first on a tiebreaker, but there was no repeat against Gulbis. He broke twice more to win easily.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Federer, who won the title in 2005 and 2006, had little trouble improving his win-loss record at the tournament to 21-3. He broke Troicki twice in each set while holding serve easily against a tired-looking opponent who has won just one ATP title.
The No. 2-ranked Federer did not serve a single ace but did not have to save a break point as he kept up his record of not dropping a set in the tournament.
"Look, I am happy with my form here and in this match," Federer said. "It wasn't a tough match and I was quite comfortable. ... I was in control of my shots and created many opportunities. This was easy compared to the first two matches."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tsonga outlasted seventh-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (4), 7-6 (9) to continue his successful comeback from a knee injury that brought his 2010 season to an early end.
Federer has won two of his three previous meetings with the Frenchman.
"He's a wonderful player, a great character," Federer said. "He has performed well at the big tournaments, especially on the hard surface at the Australian Open.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Unfortunately, he's had injuries and didn't play as much but he's tough."