Federer vs. Nalbandian in French semifinal

PARIS, June 6 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Roger Federer will play third-ranked David Nalbandian in Friday's French Open semifinals after both posted quarterfinal victories Tuesday.

The top-seeded Federer defeated 12th-seeded Croat Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his second French Open semifinal in two years. He lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in last year's semis.

Nalbandian beat sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Federer, 24, broke Ancic's serve four times to reach his eighth straight Grand Slam semifinal. Federer needs a French Open championship to complete a career Grand Slam.

The 2002 Wimbledon runner-up, Nalbandian beat Federer in last year's Tennis Masters Cup final in Shanghai and is 6-5 lifetime vs. Federer. But Federer has won five of their last six meetings.

Wednesday's quarterfinals match second-seeded Nadal, 20, against unseeded Serb Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic vs. Frenchman Julien Benneteau.