Rusedski moves into last four

Rusedski raced through the final set

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Greg Rusedski survived losing the first set against Sjeng Schalken to move into the semi-finals of the Milan Indoor tournament.

The Briton will face Swiss number two seed Roger Federer, who beat Sargis Sargsian of Armenia 4-6 6-3 6-2 late on Friday night.

The second semi-final will be between local favourite Davide Sanguinetti and Frenchman Nicolas Escude.

Federer said he knew Rusedski would be a tough opponent on a surface that is well suited to his slicing shots.

Service on song

"I have only played him once before and that was back in 1999," said Federer.

"But I know it is going to be very tough for him on this surface. I was a bit lucky today and I know against Greg I will need to serve well and play aggressively."

Rusedski had his chances in the opening set but could not take any of the break points he created and lost it 6-4, before taking the next two 7-6 6-2.

The British number two produced three love service games in a row as he clicked up a gear in the second set.

I'm very happy to have won because Sjeng played some very good tennis

Greg Rusedski

However, he could not shake off Schalken and the Dutchman forced a tie-break.

Rusedski opened the tie-break with a second service ace and secured a mini-break off Schalken's first serve with a whipped forehand pass.

Two points later the Dutchman broke back and they switched ends level at 3-3.

Schalken took a 4-3 lead with a superb backhand cross-court pass when Rusedski tried to rush the net.

However, two brave volleys saw the Briton win both his service points and take a 5-4 lead.

Double break

After Schalken had brought things back to 5-5, Rusedski charged the net and put away an angled high forehand to create a set point.

He missed his first serve but followed in a deep second delivery and put away an overhead smash to take the tie-break 7-5 and level matters at a set apiece.

In the third set, Rusedski broke Schalken twice as he raced into a 3-0 lead, but he then dropped his serve to give the Dutchman a glimmer of a chance.

Schalken held to bring it back to 3-2, but a dominant Rusedksi service game gave the Briton a 4-2 lead.

He then re-established his double break in Schalken's next service game to lead 5-2.

Sanguinetti beat a seed for the second day in a row

Bar his poor game in the fifth game of the set, Rusedski's serve had looked increasingly impressive.

He duly sent down a barrage of aces to win the set 6-2 and clinch a last-four berth.

In the other half of the draw, Sanguinetti moved into the semi-finals by winning two tiebreaks after neither he nor El Aynaouai dropped serve in the match.

The unseeded Italian, who is ranked 87 in the world, knocked out top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round.

Sanguinetti will face France's Nicolas Escude in the semi-final after he beat the big-hitting, but erratic Belarussian Max Mirnyi 7-6 6-3.

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Milan Indoor tournament quarter-final results:

Greg Rusedski (GB - 7) bt Sjeng Schalken (Ned) 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-2
Davide Sanguinetti (Ita) bt Younes El Aynaoui (Mar - 5) 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7-2)
Nicolas Escude (Fra) bt Max Mirnyi (Blr) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3
Roger Federer (Swi - 2) bt Sargis Sargsian (Armenia) 4-6 6-3 6-2

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