Roger Federer will bid for a 50th career title against James Blake on Sunday, taking a 6-0 career record over the American into their clash in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
The top-seeded Federer ousted tenacious Lleyton Hewitt in their semi-final 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (7/1), then ninth-seeded Blake eliminated Russian fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-2, 6-4.
Federer was thwarted last weekend in the Montreal final from claiming his half-century but renewed the quest with a week to go before the US Open in a 2hr 35min win, his 11th in succession against Hewitt.
Hewitt, ranked 20th, has not beaten Federer since a Melbourne Davis Cup date in September 2003. Prior to Federer's current purple patch, the Aussie had won seven of their first nine ATP contests dating to 1999.
The Swiss defeated Hewitt in last week's Montreal quarterfinals and now stand 13-7 in the career series. The victory was a closely fought thing, with Hewitt saving a match point in the second set and two in the third before Federer ran away with the final-set tiebreaker.
"That was a classic, its always tough stuff between us," said the winner, who lifted the Cincinnati title in 2005. "Playing Lleyton makes me nervous. "He makes you miss so much, I'm happy to escape with this win."
Federer slammed 18 aces as he broke the Australian on only three of 11 occasions. "I needed those aces. It was good to get some freebies once in awhile. He is so aggressive, and this is a quick court."
Blake last played Federer in the final of the season-ending Masters Cup last November in Shanghai.
"He's been the best in world the last few years," Blake said of the long-time number one. "He has an excellent record in finals. "But if I'm in the final it shows that I'm playing great," added the player who pulled out last week in Montreal with an abdominal strain. "I think I have a chance. But if he forces me on my back foot, I'm in trouble." Blake ended with a stinging cross-court forehand winner to defeat Davydenko, now out at the semi-final stage for the fifth time this season.
"That was a bit of luck, but you laugh and take your chances. On the other nine times it will miss." Federer said the "50 sounds very special," as he pondered his chances.
"It's kind of cool. I was a couple of points away from it last week," said Federer. "I'm not thinking about it too much, but it would be nice to get there this week."
Despite his defeat, Hewitt was encouraged by his performance. "This is another step in the right direction," said the Australian. "Whether or not next time I beat him or not we've got wait and see.
"I took a lot of positives even out of a two set loss last week to him. I felt my ball-striking was good. "The last two weeks have been good. It's been real good preparation for me for the US Open. I couldn't have asked for two better weeks, and it's taken the best guy in the world to knock me off."