The cool days of late September, with damp courts expected, will level the playing field and for the first time, other than when Rafael Nadal has been injured, he looks vulnerable on his beloved clay.
The semi-final line-up at the Rome Masters ATP tournament resembles a Davis Cup tie after Spanish and Argentine players claimed all four berths.
Nikolay Davydenko of Russia beat Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2 in the second round of the Hamburg Masters
World number one Roger Federer and number two Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Hamburg Masters due to fatigue.
Rafael Nadal extended his winning streak on clay to 51 matches by cruising past Chile's Fernando Gonzalez at the Rome Masters.
Both were knocked out of the men's doubles in the second round at the Rome Masters.
The 19-year-old will equal Guillermo Vilas's 1977 record of 53 consecutive wins on clay if he retains the Rome Masters title this week.
The world number one began his bid for a first Rome Masters title in style with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Juan Ignacio Chela.
The World number was pitted against Spaniard Albert Costa in Wednesday's draw.
Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo advanced into the final of the Rome Masters by brushing aside sixth seed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday.
Amelie Mauresmo will play Russian Vera Zvonareva in the semi-final of the Rome Masters
World number one Roger Federer, who was out for a week due to injury, will seek to defend his Hamburg title
The Spanish teenager edged out Argentine ninth seed Guillermo Coria in five sets to win the Rome Masters.
Coria will play Rafael Nadal in the final of the Rome Masters.
Rafael Nadal saw off the challenge of the Czech Republic's Radek Stepanek 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinal of the Rome Masters.
Last year's winner Carlos Moya was beaten 6-4, 7-6 by local wildcard Potito Starace.
Gaudio beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in a three set semi-final at the Estoril Open while Robredo advanced after Carlos Moya retired.
The 19-year-old Spaniard also equalled Guillermo Vilas's record of 53 consecutive claycourt wins.
Jennifer Capriati stunned top seed Serena Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final of the Rome Masters.
The American registered a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 win over Maria Vento-Kabchi in the second round of the Rome Masters.
The former world number one struggled to a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Spain's Maria Sanchez-Lorenzo in the second round of the Rome Masters.
The Russian registered an easy 6-2, 6-2 victory in the second round of the Rome Masters.
The former world number one completed an edgy 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 victory in his first round match at the Rome Masters.
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