Roger Federer tames Tomas Berdych to stay in hunt for elusive Rome title

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/may/15/roger-federer-tomas-berdych-italian-open-rome-masters-tennis

Version 0 of 1.

Roger Federer kept alive his pursuit of an elusive Italian Open title with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over the sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych on Friday to reach the semi-finals in Rome.

Along with Monte Carlo, Rome is one of only two Masters series titles that the 17-times grand slam champion has never won.

The Swiss will next face either the seven-times Rome champion Rafael Nadal or the eighth-seeded Stan Wawrinka, who were playing in the night session.

Meanwhile, the seventh-seeded David Ferrer beat David Goffin of Belgium 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and will meet the winner of the match between the top-ranked Novak Djokovic and the fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori.

In women’s action, the second-seeded Simona Halep routed the qualifier Alexandra Dulgheru 6-1, 6-0 in an all-Romanian contest.