The semi-finals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters feature three-time Cincinnati champion and five-time ATP World Tour No. 1 Roger Federer against unseeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and boyhood friends Mardy Fish and No. 9 seed Andy Roddick.

This is the first time here two unseeded players reached the semi-finals since 2003 when Max Mirnyi and Fish reached that round.

In the first semi-final, Roddick takes a 9-2 career mark against Fish. They are meeting for the second time in less than a month and this is also a repeat of the 2003 final here which Roddick won in three sets (saving two match points). Fish won the last encounter 7-6(5), 6-3, in the semi-finals of Atlanta on July 24. Roddick won the title here in 2003 and ’06 (d. Ferrero). This is the first time here since 2004 two Americans are meeting in the semi-finals (Agassi d. Roddick 75 67 76). In eight matches combined this week, the two have held serve 100 of 103 games (see below).

In the second semi-final, No. 3 seed and World No. 2 Federer brings a 6-1 career mark against Baghdatis but the Cypriot won the last meeting in Indian Wells in March (saving three match points). Federer is trying to reach the
final here for the fourth time, having won titles in 2005, ’07 and ’09, while Baghdatis is looking to advance to his first Cincinnati final. An unseeded player has never won the title here in the Open Era (since 1968).