DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 2 (UPI) -- Three-time defending champion Roger Federer qualified for the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships Thursday.
In the quarterfinals, Federer, the top-ranked men's player in the world, easily beat Robin Vik of Czechoslovakia, 6-3, 6-2, for his 18th straight match victory at the Dubai event. The native of Switzerland has won his last 55 matches on hard-courts.
Elsewhere, second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain beat wild card and former top-10 member Tim Henman of Britain, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1; Germany's Rainer Schuettler was an easy 6-4, 6-1, winner over countryman Bjorn Phau; and Russia's Mikhail Youzhny slammed Olivier Rochus of Belgium, 6-3, 6-1.
In Friday's semis, Federer will be challenged by Youzhny and Nadal meets Schuettler.
The event's top prize is $187,500.
