Roger Federer earned his 500th career win and Rafael Nadal extended his clay-court winning streak to 65 in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday.
Nadal, who beat Federer in the Monte Carlo final last year, beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-2, 6-3. Federer beat David Ferrer of Spain 6-4, 6-0.
"I am very happy to have done it here," Federer said of his 500th win. "That is a lot of games. I'm glad they are victories."
PHOTO: AP
Federer's first career win was against Guillaume Roux of France in September 1998 at an indoor tournament in Toulouse, France.
"I remember he was coming back from a Davis Cup tie in Israel and was tired," Federer said. "I took him down. The first few questions came right away. `What are you going to do with your first prize money?' Put it in the Swiss bank; that was my answer."
Federer's victory also took him to more than US$30 million in earnings.
"Two incredible numbers," Federer said. "I've come a long way."
The 10-time Grand Slam champion has never lost a set to Ferrer in six matches.
"I am a bit surprised, because he is a very good player," Federer said. "To beat him 6-4, 6-0 is really phenomenal."
In yesterday's semi-finals, top-ranked Federer will play two-time champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, who beat Richard Gasquet of France 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Second-ranked Nadal was due to face Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their first meeting since last October's Madrid Masters, when Berdych beat Nadal a third straight time and relations between them were strained by Berdych's reaction to the spectators.
As Berdych left the court to jeers, he angered the pro-Nadal crowd by putting his fingers to his lips in a silencing motion.
Nadal told Berdych he was "a bad person" for doing the gesture.
Asked if he and Nadal get on well together, Berdych said: "If we meet in the locker room or somewhere, we just say `Hi.' That's all."
Nadal called the relationship "neither good or bad."
"When I see him, I say hello. Even though he doesn't always do that," Nadal said.
Nadal needed five match points to overcome German qualifier Kohlschreiber for the second time this year.
"On one hand, winning easily might not challenge you because you have no pressure," Nadal said. "But on the other hand it's good for the confidence. Tomorrow I have a very tough match."
Berdych remarkably won the last 12 games to beat Robin Soderling of Sweden 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
"The start wasn't so good today, but then things changed," the 10th-seeded Czech said. "I'm really happy that I can sit here and try to prepare for tomorrow's semi-finals."
Berdych attacked Soderling's serve and outmaneuvered his taller opponent with accurate ground strokes.
Ferrero also was in trouble while trailing 4-2 in the second set, and able to overturn the deficit against Gasquet.
"I didn't manage to hammer the nail home at 4-2," Gasquet said. "That's the only thing I can reproach myself. I was not far away from the semi-finals. It's still a good tournament."
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