Federer, Coria Roll Toward Friday Showdown

In perhaps the most anticipated match of the clay season thus far, World No. 1 Roger Federer will test his clay skills against dirt wizard Guillermo Coria today in the quarterfinals at the Masters Series Hamburg.

The Argentine Coria coasted by Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-3 to raise his record in H-Burg to 15-1. Meanwhile, Federer slapped No. 14 seed Tommy Robredo all over the court with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Federer is now a perfect 6-0 against Tommy, and he’s lost just 15 games against three worthy clay foes this week. Yikes.

“With such tough draws, you catch them early sometimes,” Federer said after raising his record to 38-2 on the year, 17-3 lifetime in Hamburg.

On playing Coria, Federer is already thinking beat-down: “He came from winning Rome as well. I’m feeling much fresher I guess than him. He had a couple of tough matches back in Rome. So, I hope I can use that to win.”

Coria, didn’t seem to have that same confidence heading into the showdown: “It’s going to be similar to how it was against Nadal. You have to take it one point at a time. They are very good technically, have great shots and are very complete players. So, I just will have to play my best tennis.”

As for the other quarterfinals, all one cay say is...U-G-L-Y.

No. 15 seed Nikolay Davydenko battles Filippo Volandri which surely will have the early afternoon near-frozen H-burg crowd in the frenzy. Davydenko advanced with a three set over qualifier Juan Carlos Ferrero. Too bad, how can you not pull for Juan Carlos!

Volandri had a surprisingly easier time of it dispatching Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 6-4.

Okay, so Davydenko-Volandri didn’t do it for ya, well, what about a clash between qualifier Christophe Rochus and the ever-charismatic Juan Igancio Chela. Can’t wait for that one…

Rochus, who if not for his brother, Olivier, would probably be the smallest guy on the tour, took out fourth seeded Gaston Gaudio 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. See, being low to the ground has its benefits. Chela, meanwhile, also needed three sets to eliminate testy (5) Tim Henman 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

And in the final quarterfinal pairing of two qualifiers, Richard Gasquet, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Dominik Hrbaty, will match up with Italian Andreas Seppi who defeated Jiri Novak 6-3, 6-4.

Seppi knows who to give credit too when he wins, his mom. Can’t go wrong with mom.

“This is nearly the first time that my mother accompanies me to a tournament; normally I just travel with my coach,” said Seppi. “Maybe she brings me luck. It went well so far. She only has to take another day off now. As long as I win she’s happy.”