World number one Roger Federer played close to perfection to crush Carlos Moya 6-4, 6-3 on Friday and reach the semi-finals of the Hamburg Masters.

The quarter-final match between the top two players in the ATP Race was a one-sided affair, Swiss Federer needing just over an hour to outclass the Spaniard.

Moya, seeded seventh in the last major men's event before the French Open starts on May 24, had one single break opportunity in the entire match.

"It was a little bit frustrating," said the former French Open champion, who won the Rome Masters last week. "Roger can do everything with the ball and does not have many weaknesses. He's not the number one by accident."

Federer, who made his career breakthrough by winning the Hamburg tournament two years ago, has now beaten Moya four times in as many encounters. Friday's match was their first meeting on clay.

Both players held serve in a tight first set until Moya handed Federer three break points in the 10th game.

The Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, strongly suggesting here that he could shine at the French Open, wasted the first two before hitting a forehand crosscourt winner on the third to take the set.

A double fault by Moya enabled Federer to open a 2-0 in the second set. He then stayed on top until Moya bowed out by sending a backhand wide on the first match point.

Federer will take on Australian Lleyton Hewitt or Austrian Juergen Melzer for a place in the final.