Roger Federer eases past Andy Murray

Cincinnati (USA): Roger Federer calmly worked through a second-set deficit to defeat Andy Murray 6-3, 7-5 on Friday for a place in the semifinals of the ATP Tour’s Cincinnati Masters.The 33-year-old Swiss, a five-time champion here, will play for a spot in his second Masters 1000 final in as many weeks on Saturday against Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, a winner over Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-0.

Second seed Federer took 93 minutes to storm to victory after trailing 1-4 in the second set. Federer is bidding for the 80th title of his career. The Wimbledon finalist has now won 16 of his last 18 matches after playing last week’s Toronto final. “I started well, I was hitting the ball well,” said the 17-time Grand Slam champion. “I was the more aggressive player out there. I was having more impact from the baseline. I deserved that first set. In the second I lost a little rhythm and everything got tougher.

“I got a little down on myself after the second break but I knew it’s not been so easy for him to close out matches. I stole that second set in the end.”Federer won four second-set games to take a 5-4 lead after winning the opening set. He then earned a match point on the Scot’s serve in the next game, clinching the victory from a Murray forehand into the net.

Raonic will be playing his fourth Masters semi-final of the season when he meets Federer.

He beat Fognini with a modest seven aces but broke the quirky Italian six times.At the top of the draw, France’s Julien Benneteau won 12 of the last 15 games to stun Australian Open champion and World No.3 Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the first Masters semifinal of his career.

Benneteau made a quick recovery after losing the first set, completely turning the match around. He finished off the victory with an ace on the first of two match points.

The Frenchman will play Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer, who beat countryman Tommy Robredo 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, a day after the 16th seed had beaten a sluggish Novak Djokovic.