World number one Roger Federer cruised into the semi-finals of the Qatar Open on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Spanish seventh seed Feliciano Lopez.

The Swiss, who dominated last season with three Grand Slam titles, reeled off a succession off winners to outclass Lopez and set up a semi-final clash with Russia's Nikolay Davydenko.

Federer, who lost in the quarter-final in his only other appearance at the Qatar Open in 2003, broke Lopez in the fourth and sixth games to take the first set 6-1.

Lopez showed glimpses of fighting spirit early in the second when he held his first service game and came close to breaking Federer, but the Swiss saved a break point and promptly broke the Spaniard in the following game to seize control.

"I think I played better than on Wednesday against (Greg) Rusedski," said Federer. "I was able to put pressure on him from the first serve and I am happy that I am playing so well."

Davydenko upset third seed Sebastien Grosjean of France 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In the day's two other quarter-finals sixth-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic battled past teenage Spaniard Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-7 6-3 while former French Open champion Albert Costa came through against wily Frenchman Fabrice Santoro who retired trailing 2-6, 0-3 with a wrist injury.