Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to clash at Shanghai Masters

Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at the Shanghai Masters tournament held in the Qizhong Tennis Stadium. Goh Chai Hin / AFP

World No 1 Novak Djokovic and 17-times grand slam winner Roger Federer will battle for a place in the Shanghai Masters final after they powered through their quarter-final matches on Friday.

Gilles Simon of France and Spaniard Feliciano Lopez will also meet in Saturday's other semi-final.

Federer won his evening match against Julien Benneteau of France, taking the first set at the tie-break, before demolishing his opponent in the second to finish with a 7-6, 6-0 scoreline.

The third seed in Shanghai last faced Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in July, a game he lost 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.

The Swiss player is marginally ahead in their previous meetings, winning 18 times, compared to 17 for Djokovic, who has seven grand slams to his name.

“I think every time we play against each other, it’s a thriller,” Djokovic, the top seed in Shanghai, said.

“It’s really a big challenge for both of us. We need to take the best out of us. We need to bring our ‘A game’ in order to win.”

Federer has had a strong 2014 and is set to overtake world No 2 Rafael Nadal in the rankings on the back of his run in Shanghai. Djokovic marched into the semi-finals by overcoming David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2 as he vies for his third successive title at the event.

Elsewhere, defending champion Samantha Stosur reached the semi-finals of the women’s Japan Open with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

The top-seeded Australian, who won the US Open title in 2011, will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the last four after the No 3 seed beat Lauren Davis 6-2, 6-4. Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas will play Asian Games gold medallist Luksika Kumkhum in the other semi-final.

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