Friday, April 20, 2007

NEW STANDARD AND NOT POOR'S 500


Roger Federer won his 500th career match Friday, beating David Ferrer 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.

"I am very happy to have done it here,'' said Federer, who reached the final in Monte Carlo last year. "That is a lot of games. I'm glad they are victories.''

The 10-time Grand Slam champion has never lost a set to Ferrer in six matches.

"I am a bit surprised, because he is a very good player,'' Federer said. ``To beat him 6-4, 6-0 is really phenomenal."

Federer's career earnings have also passed the $30 million mark. Even more impressive when you consider that his gross earnings are about 10 times as much.

The top-ranked Federer will play either 11th-seeded Richard Gasquet or two-time champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in Saturday's semifinals.

Also, Tomas Berdych won 12 straight games after trailing 3-0 in the second set to beat Robin Soderling of Sweden 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

"The start wasn't so good today, but then things changed,'' Berdych said. "I'm really happy that I can sit here and try to prepare for tomorrow's semifinals.''

Berdych attacked Soderling's serve and outmaneuvered his taller opponent with accurate ground strokes to get a spot in the last four, where he will face either defending champion Rafael Nadal or qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber.

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