Federer, Roddick, Safin Into ATP Bangkok Semifinals

The top four seeds stormed into the ATP Bangkok semifinals Friday without dropping a set, three of who are current or former No. 1 players.

World No. 1 Roger Federer (d. (8) Soderling) and No. 2 Andy Roddick (d. Thomas "Tommy the J." Johansson) moved within one match of reviving their rivalry in the final, and were joined in the semis by No. 3 Marat Safin (d. Saretta) and No. 4 seed and homecountry favorite Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan (d. Van Scheppingen).

Soderling served for the first set against Federer at 5-4 before the Swiss broke back to take the set in a tiebreak, then won 6-4 in the second.

"I had a tough time breaking him up until he served for the set," Federer said. "I thought he was the toughest opponent by far in the tournament."

Roddick's game came back on line Friday, throwing down 21 aces in the 51-minute win over the former Australian Open winner Johansson.

"I played aggressive," Roddick said after the 6-3, 6-4 win. "He didn't give me that many chances to get into his service games."

The semifinals match up as (1) Federer vs. (4) The Thai Fighter (first career meeting), and (3) Safin vs. (2) Roddick. Safin has won two of his three meetings with A-Rod, this year beating him in January at the Australian Open, while the American won in later in March at the Masters Series-Indian Wells.

The doubles semifinals are Swedes Aspelin/Landsberg vs. Swiss Allegro/Federer, and Americans Gimelstob/Oliver vs. (4)Kerr/Thomas.