Monte Carlo, April 25:

Roger Federer rallied from a set down to beat sixth-seeded David Nalbandian 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 on Friday and advanced to the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Federer played Nalbandian for the 17th time, and now leads 9-8 against the Argentine after losing their previous two meetings late last year.

The top-ranked Swiss was shaky in the first set before dominating the next two and breaking Nalbandian five times in five chances, including the first match point.

At 5-2 in the third set, Federer sent a superb forehand winner down the line, and a crisp backhand made it 0-40. Federer took the match with a crosscourt winner on the run that Nalbandian couldn’t get near. Federer next plays either third-seeded Novak Djokovic or unseeded Sam Querrey in the semi-finals.

Nalbandian won the first match against Federer six years ago in the second round at Monte Carlo — the first of five consecutive wins for Nalbandian. Federer took eight of the next nine meetings, then Nalbandian beat Federer twice last year in the Madrid Masters final and the third round of the Paris Masters.

Also on Friday, fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko beat unseeded Igor Andreev 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 despite losing his serve seven times. Both Russians struggled badly on serve with Davydenko breaking Andreev nine times.

“Maybe I was lucky on this match,” said Davydenko, who attributed his poor serving to the tournament’s tennis balls. “(They are) really heavy here,” Davydenko said. “I don’t feel good topspin or good control, you know, for the serve.”

Andreev appeared in a commanding position in the 11th game of the deciding set, with Davydenko needing to rally from 15-40 down on serve to lead 6-5.

Andreev then led 40-0 on his serve in the next game, but Davydenko clawed back and won the match when Andreev sent a forehand long.

Davydenko is closing in on his second straight final on clay after losing to Federer at Estoril, Portugal last weekend. Davydenko had to retire with a left leg injury while trailing 7-6 (5), 1-2.

Davydenko will next play either three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal or fifth-seeded David Ferrer.