Federer defeated Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-4, and Nalbandian defeated third-ranked Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6 (4) today.

The top-ranked Swiss will play for his seventh title of the season against the 25th-ranked Argentine, who reached his first final of the year. Federer won his 18th straight match to reach his 10th final in 13 events.

"We've had some tough battles over the years," said Federer, who beat Nalbandian in the semifinals last year. "He won the first five, and he was the kind of player I was scared to play against."

Nalbandian has an uncomplicated strategy against Federer, who captured the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S Open titles this year.

"It's simple. If I want to win, I have to do everything well, in attack, defense. Everything," Nalbandian said.

Nalbandian, whose previous best result this year was advancing to the quarterfinals in Barcelona, won 35 of 41 first-serve points.

He handed second-ranked Rafael Nadal his worst loss in three years on Friday, and saved one break point in each set against the third-ranked Serb.

"It's hard to say if this is the best I've played. I feel like new," Nalbandian said.

Federer broke Kiefer's serve twice and was near-perfect on first serve points, winning 31-of-34 for the match, including 10 aces.

Federer, who won Masters events in Hamburg and Cincinnati this year, hasn't been broken or dropped a set after a five-week layoff since capturing his fourth straight U.S. Open title.

He hasn't lost on indoor hard courts in nearly two years, the last defeat coming against Nalbandian at the Masters Cup.

"I like playing against him, he's No. 1. and I always go out thinking I can win," said Nalbandian, a former Wimbledon finalist. "Hopefully tomorrow I can come out and play the same."

Nalbandian's serve helped him in the tiebreaker against Djokovic, who was unable to return it on the final point.

Since rallying to beat ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the second round, Nalbandian hasn't dropped a set.

"He was playing better and I didn't play the way I played these first days," said Djokovic, who had five double-faults. "It happens, sometimes you play bad and he was on the roll, and he won against Rafa and a lot of good players this week."

Djokovic, the U.S. Open finalist who won Masters titles in Miami and Montreal this year, threatened in the second set.

In the fifth game, Djokovic came to the net and pinned Nalbandian back with a volley. But the Argentine looped it over top for a point that Djokovic applauded.

Djokovic set up his second break chance in the 12th game after back-to-back forehands stretched Nalbandian into poor shots. But the Serb spun a forehand wide of the line. Nalbandian held for the tiebreaker.