ESTORIL (Portugal), April 19: Roger Federer battled changing weather, which went from sun to rain and back, before beating Portugal’s Frederico Gil 6-4, 6-1 to reach the Estoril Open semi-finals on Friday.

A quarter-final twice interrupted by the unpredictable conditions sent the players off court for 35 minutes in the first set and another 25 in the third game of the second.

Federer, working to lift his first title of the season as he begins the pre-French Open clay campaign working with Spanish coach Jose Higueras, was able to come out after the second interruption to finish the job.

“Conditions were tough, you play in heavy conditions, the rain comes, you leave the court and come back and you change quite a bit,” said the world number one, now 14-4 on the season.

The top seed will now face Germany’s Denis Gremelmayr, who beat Czech Jiri Vanek 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, for a place in the final.

Nikolay Davydenko stretched his spring win streak to ten matches as he joined Federer in the last four.

The Russian second seed, who won the prestigious Miami Masters title this month, fought past Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 on the heavy clay.

Davydenko, who confessed that his mental strength is draining away after his run of form, will face Florent Serra of France, who beat Italy’s Flavio Cipolla 6-1, 6-1.

Davydenko said he was so exhausted after losing the second set that he almost did not want to go on.

“I just told myself that I should try and see if I could fight,” said the world number four.

In the women’s tournament, second-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko moved into the semis with a convincing win over Italian Tathiana Garbin 6-0, 6-1 while Czech Iveta Benesova defeated French eighth seed Camille Pin 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Results ( prefix number denotes seeding):

Men’s (second round):

Frederico Gil (Portugal) bt Joao Sousa (Portugal) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

Quarter-finals:

1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Frederico Gil (Portugal) 6-4, 6-1; Florent Serra (France) bt Flavio Cipolla (Italy) 6-1, 6-1; 2-Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) bt 7-Marc Gicquel (France) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3; Denis Gremelmayr (Germany) bt Jiri Vanek (Czech Republic) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Women’s (quarter-finals):

2-Maria Kirilenko (Russia) bt 5-Tathiana Garbin (Italy) 6-0, 6-1; Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic bt 8-Camille Pin (France) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; 6-Klara Zakopalova (Czech Republic) bt 3-Karin Knapp (Italy) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Marat Ani (Estonia) bt Olga Savchuk (Ukraine) 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-4.

SERENA OUSTS SHARAPOVA

CHARLESTON (South Carolina): Serena Williams continued her domination of Maria Sharapova with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 win in the quarter-finals of the 1.3 million dollar Family Circle Cup on Friday.

Serena improved to 5-2 overall against the Russian who lost for just the second time in 26 matches in 2008.

The tournament lost its top seed and defending champion as Serbian Jelena Jankovic was eliminated by ninth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

The defeat left Jankovic still in search of her first title of the season.

Zvonareva advanced to a meeting with fourth-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva, who defeated seventh-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-4.

Serena, 26, will face France’s Alize Cornet, a 7-5, 6-4 winner over Hungarian Agnes Szavay.

Serena, the former No. 1 is attempting to capture her third consecutive tournament at this clay court event, having won consecutive titles in Bangalore and Miami.

Facing Serena for the first time on clay, Sharapova was in control early and served for the first set at 5-4.

Serena, however, reeled off the next three games – including two breaks – to steal the set. Sharapova rebounded to even the match at one set apiece, but Serena dominated the decisive third set, opening up a commanding 5-0 lead en route to the win.

Sharapova’s record against Serena is just one of two losing marks against current players ranked within the top 10, the other being her 3-6 record against world No. 1 Justine Henin.

Results:

Quarter-finals:

5-Serena Williams (US) bt 2-Maria Sharapova (Russia) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1; Alize Cornet (France) bt Agnes Szavay (Hungary) 7-5, 6-4; 9-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) bt 1-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2; 4-Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt 7-Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 6-4, 6-4.

BLAKE IN SEMIS

HOUSTON (Texas): Top-seeded American James Blake cruised into the semi-finals of the US Clay Court Championships on Friday, as compatriot Mardy Fish again came up short.

Fish, seeded third and in search of his first title in two years, was ousted in the quarter-finals by eighth-seeded Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

Fish hasn’t won on the ATP Tour since capturing his second career championship at this tournament in 2006.

The 26-year-old had been slowed by nagging wrist injuries during the past few years, but his recent play seemed to indicate that his title drought may be nearing an end.

Fish opened eyes last month when he reached the final at Indian Wells with victories over world No.1 Roger Federer, fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko and No.7 David Nalbandian.

Fish fired seven aces but connected on just 42 per cent (36-of-86) of his first serves and double faulted four times.

Hernandez capitalised on the mistakes, converting four of his 10 break opportunities.

Hernandez, who is seeking his first career ATP title, will next face Blake, a 6-4, 6-3 winner over fifth-seeded Augustin Calleri of Argentina.

Blake, 28, fired seven aces past Hernandez and converted both of his break chances.

Results: