World number one Roger Federer continued his smooth progress towards his 10th title of the year with a crushing 6-4, 6-0 victory over fourth seed David Nalbandian in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Swiss overwhelmed the Argentine with his usual brand of precision tennis to reach his 14th final of the year and notch up his seventh win in the last eight meetings between the two players.
The world number four looked jaded after two tough three-set matches on his way to the semi-finals and was never able to match the top seed who wrapped up victory in under an hour to take his winning streak to 18 matches.
The only tournament this year in which Federer has failed to make the final was the Masters Series event in Cincinnati in August when he lost to British number one Andy Murray in the second round.
The Madrid Masters is one of the few tournaments to have evaded the grasp of the Swiss who missed the last two editions because of injury.
"I was really pleased with the way I played," Federer told a news conference. "I was aggressive and he was the best returner I played all week.
GREAT FUN
"The second set was phenomenal especially at the end when I started to hit freely and take my chances. It's a great feeling. There were more and more good shots coming from my end and it was great fun for me.
"It was nice to make the fans feel as though they are living through something special."
He will face the winner of the other semi-final between Czech number one Tomas Berdych and 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in Sunday's final.
Federer issued an early statement of intent by winning the opening service game to love, while Nalbandian looked sluggish after his tough path to the semi-finals and lost his serve in the fourth.
The Argentine rallied briefly, breaking back in the seventh and then saving three break points to draw level at 4-4.
Federer continued to play his customary compact tennis and turned the screw at 5-4 up to manufacture two set points with a wonderful forehand pass, grasping the second opportunity with a pin-point shot on to the baseline.
In the second set the Swiss refused to let Nalbandian off the hook and rattled through the games in just 21 minutes to chalk up one of his most emphatic victories over the player who beat him in the final of last year's Masters Cup.
