TENNIS in DEPTH.

Roger Federer came through a mid-match wobble to wrap up a straight-sets win over Stanislas Wawrinka and move into the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

Defending champion Federer made his most convincing start of the tournament so far but also went close to dropping a set for the first time before sealing a 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 6-2 victory in one hour and 56 minutes on a windy Philippe Chatrier Court.

Swede Robin Soderling dismissed Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the fourth round of the French Open on Sunday to set up a mouthwatering rematch of last year’s final with holder Roger Federer.

The fifth-seeded Soderling, who last year handed Rafael Nadal his only defeat at Roland Garros, perfectly read the Croatian 10th seed’s service, breaking seven times.

He managed to keep his cool in the key moments of the match as Cilic, who has never made it past the fourth round here, struggled to match the Swede’s brutal strokes from the back of the court.

Soderling was in no mood to stay too long on Court Suzanne Lenglen as he ended Cilic’s ordeal after one hour and 40 minutes when the Croatian sent a forehand long.

Local hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired injured from his French Open fourth-round match against Russian Mikhail Youzhny on Sunday.

Tsonga, the eighth seed, received treatment to his leg when trailing 5-2 in the opening set and called it a day when Youzhny, the 11th seed, won the following game.

Tsonga spoke to the chair umpire, flung his racket onto his chair and offered Youzhny his hand.

The former Australian Open finalist was the only Frenchman left in the draw at Roland Garros.

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Mikhail Youzhny reached his third straight BMW Open final where he will face Marin Cilic after the pair posted semi-final victories over Philipp Petzschner and Marcos Baghdatis respectively.

Youzhny advanced with a 7-5 7-6 (7/5) victory over German Petzschner while Cilic came from a set down to overcome Baghdatis 3-6 6-2 6-3.

Russian Youzhny will hope to win the title in Munich for the first time after twice finishing runner-up at the clay-court tournament.

The second seed, who finished runner-up to Philipp Kohlschreiber in 2007 and again to Tomas Berdych last year, needed one hour and 43 minutes to edge past Petzschner.

Petzschner, ranked 45 in the world, twice led by a break in the first set but Youzhny recovered immediately each time before breaking in the 11th game for a one-set lead.

Neither player broke in the second set and Youzhny secured victory in the subsequent tie-break.

Top seed Cilic needed two and a quarter hours to book his place in the final.

Baghdatis served two more aces than his Croatian opponent with Cilic also producing two double faults, but the world number 11 was more effective in his all-round play.

Baghdatis, ranked 31 in the world, could only take one of nine break-point chances as Cilic eased away to victory.

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Novak Djokovic won the Barclays Dubai Championships final, defeating Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 5-7 6-3.

The defending champion, who led 7-5 2-0 on Saturday when rain forced the players off the court for a second time, was taken to a third set before seeing off his Russian opponent.

World number three Djokovic was far from his best but the Serbian – winner of the 2008 Australian Open – prevailed on a day when there were seven breaks of serve in 19 games.

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The final of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships between Novak Djokovic and Mikhail Youzhny will resume on Sunday after rain halted play.

Defending champion Djokovic was leading 7-5 2-0 when rain forced the players off the court for a second time on Saturday.

Play had initially been suspended in the first game of the second set and Djokovic just had time to hold serve and then break his Russian opponent before another downpour.

The Serbian had earlier taken a rollercoaster first set with his third break of serve, and fifth in total, as Youzhny served at 5-6 down.

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Novak Djokovic was again forced to battle from a set down to seal his place in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships at the expense of Marco Baghdatis.

In what has proved a tricky tournament for seeds, the world number three was on the brink of elimination in the second round against compatriot Viktor Troicki and again in the quarters against Ivan Ljubicic.

He was again once more in a tricky spot today when Baghdatis claimed the opening set of their semi-final.

But the Serbian hit back to seal a 6-7 (2/7) 6-3 6-4 win and a place in the final against Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny.

Djokovic struggled for rhythm in the opening set, serving five double faults, and was a break down in the second, but took control from there to progress.

Seventh seed Youzhny earlier beat Jurgen Melzer of Austria in two tough sets to book his final place.

The key moment came at 5-5 in the first set, when Melzer slipped to 0-40 on serve and, although he saved two break points, Youzhny converted at the third attempt.

He went on to take the second on a tie-break for a 7-5 7-6 (7/4) win.

“It was a tough match,” he said on www.atptour.com. “It was really close for both players.

“I think Jurgen played really well today. He was aggressive. He won a lot of good points. So for me it was really tough.”

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Defending champion Novak Djokovic rallied past Ivan Ljubicic 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 Thursday to advance at the Dubai Championships.

Djokovic was down a set and 4-4 against former finalist Ivan Ljubicic, who had 14 aces. But Djokovic won the next eight games and wil play Marcos Baghdatis in the semi final.

“After losing the first set comfortably, I tried to hold my serve,” Djokovic said. “I knew that at a certain point he’s going to miss (a) couple of first serves, and that was my chance. “

In the other semi final Jurgen Melzer will face seventh-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, who beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4.

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Robin Soderling secured the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament title in Rotterdam after Mikhail Youzhny was forced to retire hurt.

The 2009 French Open finalist, who had yet to get beyond the first round in a tournament this year, took the first set 6-4 as he won all three of the break-point opportunities he created.

The Swede then moved into a 2-0 lead in the second set only for his Russian opponent, who had knocked top seed Novak Djokovic out in the semi-finals, retire due to a wrist injury that had forced him to withdraw from his third-round clash against Lukasz Kubot at the Australian Open.

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Robin Soderling will attempt to become the first Swedish winner of the ABN Amro indoor tournament in nearly two decades after an upset 7-6, (3) 6-4 victory over second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko in the semifinals on Saturday.

Anders Jarryd’s win in 1993 was Sweden’s last.

Davydenko fought back from 5-2 down to force a first set tiebreak, which went Soderling’s way after the Russian double-faulted. It was Soderling’s first career tiebreak win over Davydenko.

A break in the ninth game of the second set ensured victory for third-seeded Soderling, who lost the 2008 final to Michael Llodra.

“It’s always tough, he is the best returner on the whole tour,” said Soderling. “I very happy to beat one of the best players in the world.”

Soderling plays Mikhail Youzhny in Sunday’s final, after Youznhy surprised Djokovic with a 2 set, 2 tie breaker win 7-6, 7-6.

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