 Federer is trying to win his home-town event for the first time |
Top seed Roger Federer moved into the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors on Friday, but second seed David Nalbandian suffered a surprise loss. Federer, playing in his home-town event, came through a dramatic second-set tie-break to beat David Ferrer 6-3 7-6 (16-14).
Nalbandian was beaten by Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.
Wawrinka will next play third seed Fernando Gonzalez, who beat Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina 5-7 6-4 6-4.
"He played better than me today, I was always on the defensive," said Nalbandian, who is sixth in the race for the season-ending Masters Cup in China next month.
 | I think I was trying to risk a bit more in front of my home crowd today |
"I wasn't able to play my game but I'm a bit closer to Shanghai and I have next week in Paris." Federer has been in magnificent form in recent weeks but was given a tougher test by fifth seed Ferrer.
The world number one was broken three times and saved six set points in the second-set tie-break before winning his 22nd straight match.
"It was surely luck some of the time," Federer admitted. "It's not easy to play such a long tie-breaker.
"I think I was trying to risk a bit more in front of my home crowd today, so I'm just lucky that it paid off in the end."
Federer goes on to face Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, who saw off seventh seed Jose Acasuso of Argentina 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.
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