"For only the second time in ATP history, the top-four players in the world will contest the semifinals at a Masters Series event."

The top-four tennis players in the world, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, were Friday's quarterfinal winners at the $3.57 million Masters Series Monte Carlo, the third of nine Masters Series events this season. Australian Open champ Novak Djokovic and Russian star Nikolay Davydenko also secured berths in the final four here.

The top-seeded and two-time Monte Carlo runner-up Federer came from behind to beat his nemesis, sixth-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 on the red clay at Monte Carlo Country Club.

Federer is now 9-8 lifetime against Nalbandian, who had won their previous two meetings, both late last season in Masters Series tournaments. Nalbandian also beat Federer in their lone previous Monte Carlo matchup, back in 2002. The Argentine is still 4-3 in their Masters Series clashes.

The 26-year-old Federer claimed his first title since last year last week in Estoril, where he snuck past an injured Davydenko, who retired while leading in the second set there.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer will meet Djokovic here on Saturday, marking a rematch of their 2007 U.S. Open final, which was won by the Swiss, and a rematch of their Aussie Open semifinal back in January, which was captured by the rising Serbian star.

Djokovic is just 2-5 lifetime against Federer, but has won two of their last three meetings. The Swiss, however, captured their lone Monte Carlo matchup here two years ago.

The third-seeded Djokovic handled unseeded American Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-0 on Day 6 here.

A second-seeded Nadal won his 18th straight match in Monte Carlo by holding off fifth-seeded fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, 6-1, 7-5. Ferrer, who was unable to convert on three set points in the second set, was fresh off his clay-court title in Valencia last week.

The reigning three-time Monte Carlo titlist Nadal is now 22-1 lifetime here, including wins over Federer in the finals last year and in 2006.

Meanwhile, a fourth-seeded Davydenko, last week's Estoril runner-up to Federer, outlasted fellow Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Saturday's other semifinal will pit Nadal against Davydenko. The Spaniard is 2-1 all-time against the Russian, but Davydenko won their last meeting at the Miami Masters just three weeks ago, as the gritty Russian won the lucrative title in south Florida.

The 2008 Monte Carlo titlist will collect $570,000.

(via tsn.ca)

Tennis' Four Top Seeds Move On In Monte Carlo!