The Swiss proved a class above his eighth-seeded opponent, dominating with pinpoint serving and flowing backhand winners.

Federer is still to drop his serve this week.

In Saturday's final Federer will face last year's runner-up Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia [ Images ] after he beat Spain's Albert Costa 6-3, 7-6 in a match lasting two hours 10 minutes.

"It was a very satisfying match and I am happy that I am in the final," said Federer who reached the quarter-finals in his only previous appearance here in 2003.

"I felt I still could have played better, but the most satisfying thing is that I haven't dropped serve so far."

Federer won all 11 of his finals last year as he became the first player to win 13 consecutive finals, moving ahead of John McEnroe [ Images ] and Bjorn Borg [ Images ], and will start overwhelming favourite to extend that sequence to 14.