DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 3 (UPI) -- Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal won their semifinal matches Friday at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Federer, the top seed and top-ranked men's player in the world, beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 6-2, 6-3, for his 19th straight match win at Dubai. The seven-time Grand Slam champion saved eight break points against Youzhny and fought back from 0-40 deficits in his first two service games.
Nadal, who is No. 2 in both the world and this tournament, topped Rainer Schuettler of Germany, 6-4, 6-2. He is playing for just the second time this year because of a foot injury.
On Saturday, the two will meet for the fourth time. The 19-year-old Nadal is 2-1 lifetime against Federer, and was the winner the last time they met -- in the 2005 French Open semifinals at Paris.
Federer, 24, will seek his 36th career title.