Roger Federer calmly worked through a second-set deficit to defeat Andy Murray 6-3, 7-5 on Friday for a place in the semifinals of the ATP Tour’s Cincinnati Masters.
The 33-year-old Swiss, a five-time champion here, will play for a spot in his second Masters 1000 final in as many weeks against Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, a winner over Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-0.
Second seed Federer took 93 minutes to storm to victory after trailing 4-1 in the second set.
At the top of the draw, France’s Julien Benneteau won 12 of the last 15 games to stun Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the first Masters semifinal of his career.
Ferrer progresses The Frenchman will play Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer, who beat countryman Tommy Robredo 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, a day after the 16th seed beat sluggish Novak Djokovic.
Maria Sharapova won a re-match of her French Open title victory over Simona Halep, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win to reach the semifinals.
The reigning Roland Garros holder will play Ana Ivanovic after the Serb ninth seed defeated Ukrainian teenager Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3 in less than an hour on Friday night.
Top-seeded Serena Williams cruised into the final four with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Jelena Jankovic.
Williams will face former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who beat fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 7-6(5).
The results: Men: Quarterfinals: Julien Benneteau bt Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-1, 6-2; Milos Raonic bt Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-0; David Ferrer bt Tommy Robredo 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Roger Federer bt Andy Murray 6-3, 7-5.
Women: Quarterfinals: Serena Williams bt Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-3; Caroline Wozniacki bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 7-6(5); Maria Sharapova bt Simona Halep 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Ana Ivanovic bt Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-3.
