The Swiss proved a class above his eighth-seeded opponent, dominating with pinpoint serving and flowing backhand winners.

Federer is still to drop his serve this week.

In Saturday's final Federer will face last year's runner-up Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia after he beat Spain's Albert Costa 6-3, 7-6 in a match lasting two hours 10 minutes.

"It was a very satisfying match and I am happy that I am in the final," said Federer who reached the quarter-finals in his only previous appearance here in 2003.

"I felt I still could have played better, but the most satisfying thing is that I haven't dropped serve so far."

Federer won all 11 of his finals last year as he became the first player to win 13 consecutive finals, moving ahead of John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, and will start overwhelming favourite to extend that sequence to 14.