Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were on course to clash in another final after winning their quarterfinals in straight sets at the Madrid Masters on Friday. Top-ranked Nadal downed Spanish countryman Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4 while second-ranked Federer eliminated ninth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 6-3. In Saturday's semifinals, Nadal will meet Gilles Simon of France who prevailed over Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), while Federer will tackle fourth-seeded Andy Murray in a replay of the US Open final. Murray beat Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 6-2. Nadal and Federer have each won Madrid without playing the other. They have featured in four finals this year, with Nadal sweeping them all, including the French Open and Wimbledon. Nadal, who had complained of a right leg injury at the start of the week, said he suffered shoulder pain against Richard Gasquet on Thursday and which continued into Friday, and he received mesotherapy treatment – microinjections into the hurting skin – just before playing Lopez. “Right up to the last minute the doctors have been treating me for shoulder pain, I spent two hours with them before coming out on court,” Nadal said. Federer used an effective slice serve on the fast indoor surface against del Potro and was never broken. “The slice goes nicely on this court, I felt good using it to counter Juan Martin's height,” Federer said. Del Potro served 12 aces, including 11 in the first set, but his four double-faults cost him. Murray was broken by Monfils in the opening game, but the Scot broke straight back and twice more to take the first set. The second set followed a similar pattern. Venus to play Ivanovic Venus Williams remained on course for a second Zurich Open title when she beat Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Friday. Third-seeded Williams, the 1999 champion, next faces second-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who defeated Czech teenager Petra Kvitova 6-1, 6-4. Flavia Pennetta of Italy and Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain also advanced to meet in the semifinals on Saturday. “She is a good competitor,” Williams said. “She went for a lot out there today, sometimes maybe a little too much. “I think I played more consistent than in my first match.” Ivanovic was into her first semifinals since winning the French Open in June. Pennetta followed her upset of top-ranked Jelena Jankovic by beating Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 6-2. Medina Garrigues advanced when Victoria Azarenka of Belarus retired with a shoulder injury after they split the first two sets 4-6, 6-3.
