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Roger Federer has won this tournament five times. AP Photo/Al Behrman
forever young

Cincinnati Kid: Federer rolls back the years to reach semi-final and maintain top ranking

The Swiss will face fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka in the last four, safe in the knowledge that he will remain world number one.

HE MAY HAVE been bested by Andy Murray at the Gold Medal Final during London 2012 but Roger Federer’s renaissance continues apace.

The Swiss reached tournament semi-final number 12 on Friday after beating Mardy Fish of the United States in straight sets.

Federer has competed in 13 tournaments this year. The feat of reaching the last four so frequently is something the top seed achieved unerringly during his prime.

He is 31-years-old now but with another Wimbledon title secured, rival Rafa Nadal struggling with tendinitis, and a world number one ranking to defend, Federer looks like he is here to stay.

His 6-3, 7-6 win over Fish in the quarters of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati means he stays atop the rankings.

The only man who has a chance of knocking Federer from the top spot this year is Novak Djokovic, who faces Juan Martin del Potro in Saturday’s other semi-final.

A well-known foe

Federer has won the W&S Open on five previous occasions, the last time coming in 2010, and he holds a 10-1 overall record against Wawrinka.

The Swiss pair combined for Men’s Doubles Gold at Beijing 2008. Wawrinka defeated Canada’s Milos Raonic to set up the semi encounter. Federer said:

I have a tough matchup with him. It’s going to be a difficult one. It seems like he’s playing really well.

“I’m just excited for him and for me (that) two Swiss guys can make it to the semis here in Cincinnati.”

Djokovic faces del Potro in the other semi-final, a replay of the Bronze Medal Match that the Argentine won less than a fortnight ago.

Federer would only have lost the world number one ranking to Djokovic if he was eliminated at or before the quarter-finals and the Serb won the tournament.

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