Federer Sweeps Into Semis at Indian Wells

Posted on March 17, 2006

Roger Federer was 5-0 against Ivan Ljubicic in head-to-head meetings last year, though three of the five were three-set affairs. On Thursday at the Masters Series-Indian Wells, the Swiss No. 1 looked like he would book little dissension from the Croat in 2006, rolling over the big-serving Ljubicic 6-2, 6-3 to easily move into the semifinals.

Afterwards Ljubicic bowed down to the Swiss in his post-match conference.

"I consider myself a Top 5 player but that doesn't mean I'm close to Roger," the No. 6-ranked Ljubicic told reporters. "He's much better than me and anybody else...when he's on top of his game, no one can give him any trouble."

Federer said he is back on top of his game after earlier in the week struggling with 59 unforced errors against Olivier Rochus.

"This was an excellent match for me -- maybe the best of the season," Federer said after walking past Ljubicic. "I just think from beginning to end. I've had some good matches this year, too, but this was against a top-quality player. Really, I thought everything I really wanted to work really worked. Today I had to earn it."

In the semis Club Fed will face unseeded Thai Paradorn Srichaphan, who on Thursday upset No. 22 seed Jarkko Nieminen 7-6(3), 3-6, 7-5.

"It's giving me a lot of confidence, this tournament, beating (Robby) Ginepri, (Juan Carlos) Ferrero and (David) Nalbandian," Srichaphan said earlier this week after beginning his roll. "Now confidence is back."

Winners in the doubles quarterfinals Thursday were Americans (1) Bryan/Bryan (d. Frenchmen Gasquet/Grosjean), (2) Bjorkman/Mirnyi (d. (6) Santoro/Zimonjic 10-5 in the third), (3) Knowles/Nestor (d. Russians Andreev/Davydenko 10-8 in the third), and Aspelin/Perry (d. Austrians Knowle/Melzer).

On court Friday in singles are Blake vs. Andreev and Nadal vs. Baghdatis, and in doubles Bryan/Bryan vs. Aspelin/Perry, and Knowles/Nestor vs. Bjorkman/Mirnyi.