BBC SPORT | Tennis | Safin sinks Federer

Friday's results

The prospect of an all-Russian men's final at the Kremlin Cup moved a step closer on Friday as Marat Safin and Yevgeny Kafelnikov made the last four.

Top seed Safin came through what looked like being a tough test against Roger Federer in style, winning 7-5 6-4.

The tournament starts now, in the semi-finals

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

"I have played him three times before and lost all three, and the last two times I didn't have any chances to beat him," said Safin.

"But today I even surprised myself how well I played. I would give myself a straight 'A' for the effort."

Kafelnikov was equally impressive earlier when he beat unseeded Frenchman Cyril Saulnier in straight sets.

The Russian is looking for an incredible sixth consecutive Kremlin title, and will meet seventh seed Sjeng Schalken next.

"Of course, I know I can make history by winning a tournament for a sixth consecutive time because until now nobody else has been able to do that," said Kafelnikov.

"But nobody is going to give me this victory just for the sake of making history, I have to earn it myself.

Amelie Mauresmo
Mauresmo is enjoying her best-ever season
"For me the tournament starts now, in the semi-finals. Tomorrow against Schalken is going to be the toughest test."

Schalken scored an impressive 6-4 6-7 6-3 win over Nicolas Escude of France.

Unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu will take on Safin after beating Germany's Rainer Schuettler 4-6 6-2 6-3.

In the women's draw, Amelie Mauresmo is on course to meet Lindsay Davenport in the final after easing through her last-eight tie in Moscow.

The French star, seeded fifth, beat Slovenian Maja Matevzic 7-6 6-3 to secure a semi-final showdown with Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria.

And Mauresmo will be a strong favourite to progress further in the absence of top seed Venus Williams, who lost to Maleeva in the first round.

The Bulgarian went on to beat France's Nathalie Dechy 6-4 6-2 in her quarter-final.

And South African Amanda Coetzer became another surprise semi-finalist, beating Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-2 6-1.

Davenport, the second seed, came through a tricky encounter with rising Russian star Elena Bovina in the last of the women's quarters.

The American fought back for a 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory to set up a semi with Coetzer.

"I didn't play my best tennis in the first set, and I really had to get better when the match was on," said Davenport.

Kremlin Cup results:

Men's quarter-finals:

(1) Marat Safin (Rus) bt (5) Roger Federer (Swi) 7-5 6-4

(2) Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Rus) bt Cyril Saulnier (Fra) 6-3 7-5

(7) Sjeng Schalken (Ned) bt Nicolas Escude (Fra) 6-4 6-7 6-3

Paul-Henri Mathieu (Fra) bt Rainer Schuettler (Ger) 4-6 6-2 6-3

Women's quarter-finals:

(2) Lindsay Davenport (US) bt Elena Bovina (Russia) 3-6 6-3 6-3

(5) Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) bt Maja Matevzic (Slo) 7-6 6-3

Magdalena Maleeva (Bul) bt Nathalie Dechy (Fra) 6-4 6-2

Amanda Coetzer (Rsa) bt Nadia Petrova (Rus) 6-2 6-1


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