The world number 10 needed just 58 minutes to wrap up a victory that keeps him on course for his fourth successive Swiss Indoors final.

Nalbandian, who is still chasing a place at next month's season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, will face Cypriot qualifier Marcos Baghdatis in Saturday's semi.

The world number 85 booked his first ever place in an ATP semi-final with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 win over Argentina's Jose Acasuso.

Despite the gap between the two players in the world rankings, Baghdatis could provide Nalbandian with quite a test.

The former Australian Open juniors winner came close to an upset against the Argentine at this year's French Open -- taking the opening set 6-0 before losing the next three 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

"I played pretty well in that match, though at the start it was like Nalbandian wasn't there," the 20-year-old recalled.

"Then suddenly he was there and we had quite a fight. He's a great player who plays a lot of rallies and runs well, but I think I can find a solution on Saturday."

In Friday's remaining quarter-final matches Slovakian fifth seed Dominik Hrbaty is taking on Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen, while British wild card Andy Murray goes up against Chilean fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez.