Semi-final result:

R FEDERER (Swi) bt N DAVYDENKO (Rus)

6-1 7-5 6-4

By Piers Newbery

Third set:

Federer 6-4 Davydenko
Federer rarely makes it easy in these situations. He races to 40-0 and three match points and then makes one forehand error and two tame second serves that are thumped past him. He gathers himself with a couple of better serves and it's yet another Grand Slam final for the Swiss.

Federer 5-4 Davydenko
Well, Davydenko does his bit by holding serve and forcing Federer to wrap up victory himself - something he need three goes at in his quarter-final against James Blake.

Federer 5-3 Davydenko
No mistake this time from Federer, who looks like Pete Sampras on one point as he attacks the net and punches away a volley.

Federer 4-3 Davydenko
You could see this coming - Davydenko is broken, criminally double faulting at 15-30 and playing a dreadful backhand at 30-40.

Federer 3-3 Davydenko
Federer's only weakness in this tournament has been in serving out after achieving a break of serve, and he looks edgy again. Three errors see him slip to 15-40 and Davydenko converts his second break point with a backhand return. Slack stuff from Federer.

Federer 3-2 Davydenko
Davydenko stays in touch and will have enjoyed the sight of Federer swatting unsuccessfully at a volley on the last point.

Federer 3-1 Davydenko
Federer holds comfortably and his dominance has all but silenced the vast crowd.

Federer 2-1 Davydenko
The Federer forehand takes control again - he sends Davydenko reeling with one return and earns two break points with another thumping groundstroke. The Russian succumbs when he sends one flying off the frame and this one could be over quickly now.

Federer 1-1 Davydenko
Federer holds to 15, Davydenko taking a point with an outrageous mishit.

Federer 0-1 Davydenko
Davydenko opens the set with a love-service game but he is not exactly exuding positive vibes at the moment, understandably.

Second set:

Federer 7-5 Davydenko
One Federer double fault gives Davydenko hope and the Russian responds by changing racquet midway through the game. He promptly smacks a forehand into the net and Federer takes his first set point with a service winner.

Federer 6-5 Davydenko
Federer does make the breakthrough - his returns put Daydenko under pressure and the Russian crumbles. If the Swiss can hold serve he is as good as in the final, as there seems little chance of Davydenko winning three sets in a row.

Federer 5-5 Davydenko
Federer comes up with the goods when under some pressure for the first time today. He wins the game to love when serving to stay in the set.

Federer 4-5 Davydenko
Federer is close to what would surely be the decisive breakthrough. He forces a Davydenko error at deuce, and looks to have won the break point with an angled forehand only to see Davydenko reach it and fire back a winner of his own. The Russian edges ahead again.

Federer 4-4 Davydenko
Davydenko's relentless hitting is starting to have some effect and the Russian has a glorious chance at 30-30 but dumps a forehand into the net. Federer comes through but things are not quite as comfortable now.

Federer 3-4 Davydenko
Davydenko is enjoying his best period of the match so far and edges ahead with a confident service game, although Federer makes one excellent return to remind everyone who's really in charge.

Federer 3-3 Davydenko
Is that a smile from Davydenko? No, it's a grimace. Federer toys with him in a lengthy rally, seemingly upping the pace with every forehand before firing a magnificent winner into the corner. A helpless Davydenko crouches down and makes a 'time-out' sign, revealing a previously unknown sense of humour.

Federer is not smiling a few moments later when Davydenko recovers with four straight points to break back. No-one saw that coming.

Federer 3-2 Davydenko
Davydenko fights hard to keep Federer at bay but then the top seed injects some extra zip into his groundstrokes and leaves the Russian flailing. A couple of crunching forehands earn Federer break point and Davydenko throws in an error to give up the break.

Federer 2-2 Davydenko
At 15-15, Federer takes Davydenko out wide and then arrows a forehand into the corner - a stunning shot. He moves in and cuts off a sharp backhand volley for 40-30 and holds with another winning forehand. The Swiss does then towel himself down, which is about as positive a sign as Davydenko has had so far.

Federer 1-2 Davydenko
Davydenko snatches at a very makeable forehand, dragging it wide of the tram lines to go to 15-15, but he battles on and takes the game with a much better effort at a pass down the line.

Federer 1-1 Davydenko
Federer is completely untroubled on his own serve at the moment and his extra power off the ground is helping him dominate.

Federer 0-1 Davydenko
At last a moment of hope, if not exactly inspiration, for Davydenko. The Russian brings Federer into the net and then sends up a backhand lob that leaves the world number one stranded. The Russian holds serve from 0-30 down - a turning point?

First set:

Federer 6-1 Davydenko
Federer closes out the set in just 21 minutes with a comfortable hold. It's hard to know what Davydenko's game plan was coming into the match but he needs to change it quickly. The Russian has an 0-7 record against Federer and not many would bet against it being 0-8 this evening.

Federer 5-1 Davydenko
The 23,000-capacity stadium is almost full but there is little or no noise as Federer's domination continues. A winning forehand return sets the tone on the first point before a succession of beautiful backhands help him to two more break points. Davydenko puts a backhand long and the set is almsot gone.

Federer 4-1 Davydenko
Just to add to the feeling that everything is going against Davydenko, the umpire overrules - correctly - when a Federer forehand is called out. The Swiss holds to 15.

Federer 3-1 Davydenko
Davydenko is starting to look like being the latest victim of a Federer drubbing when he drops the first two points on serve but, credit to the Russian, he finds a couple of first serves and digs himself out of trouble.

Federer 3-0 Davydenko
Federer may not like the challenge system much but he is quick to use it when Davydenko fires a forehand close to the line. The Swiss is proved correct and everything is going his way so far.

Federer 2-0 Davydenko
It's a very different atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium when matches are played in the afternoon as opposed to the evening, and it's fair to say the prospect of watching Davydenko does not add much electricity to the crowd.

Federer is playing in his 10th consecutive Grand Slam semi, so not much bothers him. The Swiss gets an early break point and takes it with the aid of a net cord. That's all Davydenko needs.