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Federer to face Roddick as longtime rivalry revives

Federer and Roddick will play out the latest installment of a tennis rivalry which began in Basel nine years ago when the all-star pair meet in a Saturday semi-final at the Swiss Indoors.

It was in 2001 when the pair of future world-beaters first clashed at the St Jakobshalle, boyhood venue for Basel-born Roger Federer who got his start in the game as a ballboy at the event.

Federer, barely 20, won that encounter in three sets over the teenaged American. The 19-2 record of Federer in the series now includes three winning Wimbledon finals,the latest in 2009.

The pair set up their latest showdown as fourth seed Roddick defeated Argentine David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-4 and Federer hammered Czech veteran Radek Stepanek, 6-3, 6-2 in exactly one hour.

The win was the third easy victory of the home week for Federer, who has yet to be tested.

“It is always tough playing Andy,” said the Swiss. “He is much better than the record shows. Indoors he is especially dangerous with his big serve. I will have to keep my level high if I’m going to win.”

Federer will take over as top seed next week in Paris after the withdrawal of Rafael Nadal due to arm tendinitis. The Bercy tournament starting Monday is the final event of the regular ATP seasons prior to the November 21 eight-man World Tour Finals.

Roddick is in the chase for one of three remaining spots in the field among a pool of six hopefuls.

“We’ve played a bunch of times, we’ve been in this situation before,” said the American. “Playing Roger means you are far along in the tournament.

“As a competitor, you want to play the best, I always look forward to facing him.”

In the other semi-final, holder Novak Djokovic and fellow Serb Viktor Troicki lined up a pre-Davis Cup finals hit-out.

Second seed Djokovic easily dispatched Holland’s Robin Haase 6-2, 6-3. Troicki, engaged in a friendly rivalry with teammate Janko Tipsarevic for the number two singles spot behind Djokovic for Serbia in the December 3-5 Davis final in Belgrade against France, won a tune-up against Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2.

Djokovic polished his perfect Basel record to 8-0 as he dominated Hasse, the number 66 who has come back from surgery in both 2008 and 2009 after starting the season ranked 451^st.

US Open finalist Djokovic has maintained his level during the autumn, winning a second straight title in Beijing and losing to Federer in last month’s Shanghai semi-finals.

“I want to defend my title but there are a lot of great players here all playing well, said the Serb. “Viktor is at the top of his game and playing some of the best tennis of his life.

“He just won his first title in Moscow. I’m playing well here. “I want to finish the season well and go into the Davis Cup final healthy.”

Like the rest of his Serbian comrades, Djokovic cannot keep his mind off of the historic final. “I’ve played every tie for last couple of years,” said the 23-year-old. “Playing for your country is a different feeling than in any other event.

“It’s the only occasion where you can feel the team spirit and proudly represent your country. We have something really special, great friendship off the court. This atmosphere gives us a lot of success.”