Publications
Partners
Basel - Excitable world number three Novak Djokovic celebrated as if he had won a Grand Slam tournament during and after his 6-2 6-3 demolition of qualifier Robin Hasse at the Swiss Indoors on Friday.
The Serb's clenched-fist celebrations after almost every point looked strangely out of place against an opponent ranked 63 places below him who offered little in the way of resistance.
"Any match is important, regardless of whether it's a grand slam or an ATP 250 or 500 tournament," titleholder Djokovic told bemused reporters when asked if it had all been a little over the top.
"I always try to perform my best on court, that's what it's all about."
The win earned Djokovic a semi-final against his Serbian Davis Cup team mate Viktor Troicki, who swept past Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-2.
The two Serbs met in the first round at the U.S. Open in September where Djokovic, who last year beat Federer in the final to deny him a fourth successive title in Basel, came from two sets to one down to avoid a shock defeat.
They have also propelled Serbia to the Davis Cup final where they will be at home to France.
"He has a big serve, he loves fast courts and it's going to be a difficult match," said Djokovic, while adding that it was the Davis Cup which really mattered.
Top seed Federer duly made sure of his semi-final place by strolling to a 6-3 6-2 win over wild card Radek Stepanek.
In contrast to Djokovic, the unflappable Swiss, yet to drop a set, looked almost bored as he reeled off the games without facing a break point.
Federer will play Andy Roddick in the semi-final after the American, seeded four, halted David Nalbandian's progress, winning 6-4 6-4 in the only one of Friday's games to provide any sort of real contest.
The Argentine, recovering from a series of injuries, has risen to 29th in the ranking and is aiming to get back into the top 10 next year.
