Roger Federer edged closer to a dream tenth title of the season as he applied the pressure at just the right moments, defeating Robin Soderling 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 for a spot in the semi-finals of the 550,000-dollar Thailand Open on Friday.
The Swiss top seed, already assured of this season's world number one ranking, will be playing in his tenth semi of the season on Saturday at the Impact arena.
He will face the winner from Thai hero Paradorn Srichaphan, seeded fourth, and Dutchman Dennis van Scheppingen.
Federer, now 67-6 this season and holder of three of the four Grand Slams, said he was now able to begin thinking about achieving just a bit more in 2004.
"There are still two matches to go, but I can start dreaming about a tenth trophy this season," said the Swiss, who fired over 14 aces including one on match point against his Swedish opponent.
"Soderling gave me a tough match, he served for the first set (leading 5-4) but I broke him. I was glad to get back into it.
"In the second it was a real boost for me to win. Ten titles this season would be nice. To do it here this week would be fantastic."
Federer won his previous meeting with the eighth-seeded Soderling in late July in the second round at Toronto en route to that title.
Soderling, 20, stands a dismal 1-6 lifetime against Top 10 opponents, with his only win coming over Rainer Schuettler in the first round of this year's Australian Open.
Federer won the opening set in a tie-breaker producing two of his aces along the way.
In the second, the pair exchanged breaks from the third through fifth game with the Swiss emerging with the lead, 3-2.
Federer had to save two break points, but ended the sixth game with an ace for 4-2. He then took the victory after one hour, 22 minutes.
In other quarter-final contests, second seed Andy Roddick was playing Swede Thomas Johansson while China Open winner Marat Safin faced Brazil's Flavio Saretta.