Fluid and ferocious in equal measure, Roger Federer felled his nemesis David Nalbandian on Wednesday to reach his first Australian Open semifinal.The 7-5, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory was a first Grand Slam victory over the burly Argentine for Federer, who now plays Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semis.Ferrero earlier showed no sign of the elbow, shoulder or hamstring injuries as he beat Hicham Arazi 6-1, 7-6, 7-6. In the women’s draw, Kim Clijsters fought off a niggling ankle injury and a bout of paralysing nerves to squeeze into the semis with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Russian Anastasia Myskina. Clijsters, who said she will wait until she is given the “all clear” on her ankle before taking the court for her last-four clash, is due to face Patty Schnyder. The Swiss ended Lisa Raymond’s giant-killing run with a 7-6, 6-3 win.Raymond, the 25th seed, had caused the biggest upset of the tournament in the second round when she ousted title contender Venus Williams. But the American doubles specialist was defensive and erratic against Schnyder. (Reuters)
