Roger Federer and Andy Murray reached the semi-finals yesterday as the Dubai Open boiled up for a likely showdown between two of the big four tomorrow.

Federer, the Grand Slam record-holder from Switzerland, won for the 12th time in as many meetings with Mikhail Youzhny, the former world number eight from Russia.

His 6-3, 6-4 success kept him on course for a record fifth title.

Murray, the first British male since the 1930’s to reach three Grand Slam finals, gained a 6-3, 7-5 revenge over Tomas Berdych, whom he lost to on the last three occasions, making it Murray’s best sequence in four attempts at the Middle East event.

The match ended in controversy as Berdych argued at length with the umpire over a Hawkeye decision when he had a point to break back for 6-6 in the final game.

Murray’s appeal to the computer replay showed that the line judge’s call of fault had been wrong and that Murray’s unreturned serve had in fact been in.

But when the Scot was awarded the point, Berdych claimed the rally should have been replayed, arguing with Swedish umpire Mohamed Lahyani that the line judge’s call had interfered with his return of serve.

Other results: Djokovic bt Tipsarevic 6-1, 7-6; Del Potro bt Tsonga 7-6, 6-2.