Defending champion Roger Federer dispatched unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Hamburg Masters.

The world number one, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament, was supremely comfortable throughout and delivered a virtuoso display of shot-making to hint at a return to his imperious best.

Left-hander Verdasco began well and held his first two service games, but Federer's stubborn resistance garnered a break in his third and the Swiss capitalised to ease home 6-3 in the first set.

As is so often the case, Federer's gameplan was masterful. He stayed in points, took his chances when they arrived, and relied on his adventurous opponent making mistakes.

Verdasco's impatience cost him dearly, and when the sensible option was to play safe, he blasted wild attempted winners wide of their target.

The 24-year-old briefly threatened to mount a serious challenge at the start of the second set, but an injury to his ankle put pay to any lingering hopes and Federer breezed home 6-3 with two breaks to stay on course for his fifth Hamburg Masters title.

Federer will now face Andreas Seppi, after the Italian eked out a 6-3-5-7 7-5 victory in three hours and 13 minutes to break the hearts of home fans and end the campaign of the tournament's last remaining German Nicolas Kiefer.

Kiefer's fairytale run in the tournament had seen him become the first German this century to reach the last eight, but the 30-year-old Holzminden native made too many mistakes in the end and Seppi was able to stave off a remarkable comeback.

The 24-year-old Italian began the match firmly in the ascendancy, took the first set comfortably and looked set to wrap up the encounter at 5-2 up with a break in the second.

Kiefer was not about to disappoint the Hamburg faithful, however, and clawed his way back into the match with two breaks to take the second set 7-5.

A tense deciding set ensued, but the momentum had shifted in the German's favour and he struck first with a break in the third game.

Seppi remained into contention, however, and broke back to make it 5-5 before going on to claim the decisive break in 12th game with a blistering backhand return of serve for a clean winner on the second match point of the set.

Will Tidey / Eurosport