Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka eased into theMonte Carlo Masters final on Saturday, setting up the first all-Swiss title showdownin 14 years.Federer, who has never won the trophy in the principality, beat Novak Djokovic 7-5,6-2 as the defending champion and world number two struggled with a right wristinjury which limited his serving to the 150kph range.Wawrinka, the Australian Open champion, saw off David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), a day after the Spaniard stunned eight-time champion compatriot Rafael Nadal in thequarter-finals.Federer featured in the last all-Swiss final when he lost to Marc Rosset in the 2000Marseille decider, back in the days when the 17-time Grand Slam title winner wasstill a raw teenager.Federer, a loser in three Monte Carlo finals to Nadal, will be making his first titlebid in the tournament since 2008."It comes as a bit of a surprise to be in the finals, especially the first one on clay,"said Federer. "But, of course, I'll take it."I've put in the performance to be there, gave myself the opportunity this week. SoI'm very happy with my play."Djokovic's loss ended a 13-match win streak and a run of 23 in a row at the Masterslevel."It's just a match to forget for me," said the Serb who is unsure when he will playagain. "It's unfortunate that when you're playing at this level against Roger, in a bigtournament, that you are not able to play your game because something else istaking away all your energy and effort."This injury that has been present for last 10 days, and I tried not to think or talkabout it, I did everything I could really, I was on the medications every day, I wasdoing different therapies, injections."But at the end of the day, the end of the tournament, the semi-finals are a goodresult. But I'm disappointed that I could not play as well as I could have.- Federer leads Wawrinka 13-1 - The Easter Sunday title match-up will be huge for both Swiss men, but Federer goesinto the match with a psychological edge standing 13-1 over his Davis Cup doublespartner and good friend."It's incredible that we are in the final together, the same week we've been playingwell for some time now," said Federer.Wawrinka won his only match in the series against Federer in the 2009 Monte Carlothird round."It's great, for sure, to play a Swiss player, especially Roger," said Wawrinka."Today I'm very satisfied with the way I played. I was very pleased with my game in the first set. I was also pleased with my game in the second set, although I was a bitmore hesitant."He changed his tactics and became more aggressive with his forehand," he said ofFerrer, who on Friday had condemned Nadal to his earliest exit from the tournamentsince 2003.Wawrinka improved to 19-3 on the season and appears to have overcome his post-Australian Open slump where he lost early in both Indian Wells and Miami.The Swiss had not faced a break point until his meeting with Ferrer, improving hisrecord in the series with the Spaniard to six wins against seven losses."Stan was very good, he was playing unbelievable," said Ferrer, who trailed 5-0 inthe first set. "I didn't have options to resist him."I didn't return very well, but in the second Stan had a few mistakes and I was ableto play with more power with my forehand. But he was better, and he moved the ballbetter than me."The win marked the 100th victory for Wawrinka in Masters events and left him witha 15-6 Monte Carlo record from seven appearances. Source: AFP
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