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The top seed who grew up as a ballboy at the Swiss Indoors treated his hometown supporters to a clinical exhibition as he crushed his German opponent 6-3, 6-2.

 It was Federer's ninth win in a row over Kiefer, who reached the semi-finals last week in Madrid, where he also lost to Federer in straight sets.

 The Swiss has dropped just four sets against Kiefer dating to 2003 and stands 10-3 against the 30-year-old.

 "I'm happy with how I played," Federer said. "I controlled from the baseline."

   But he added that conditions were different: "This is a lot slower than when we played last week in Madrid. There we could barely control the balls.

 "Bit I felt I totally in charge today, I'm glad I could manage to take advantage."

   The Swiss next plays Croatian number 25 Ivo Karlovic, who fired 38 aces in a defeat of Tomas Berdych 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (15-13).

 It took five match points for Karlovic to advance into a showdown with the Swiss player, who beat him in Montreal last summer.

 Federer is keen to lift a second straight title at him before travelling to Paris to conclude the regular season at the Bercy arena.

 He then will lead the eight-man field at the season-wrap-up Masters Cup in Shanghai starting on November 11.

 Kiefer was resigned to his fate.

 "He's the best on court and there is no denying that," said the German, who returned this year after a long-running wrist injury absence.

 "But I think I'm young enough (age 30) and talented enough to make a run at trying to somehow beat him."

   Federer, winner of a dozen Grand Slams, improved to 61-7 on the season.

 Second seed Fernando Gonzalez was handed his earliest-ever loss at the event, with the 2005 champion hounded out 6-3, 7-5 by Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

 Gonzalez lifted the title two years ago over Marcos Baghdatis and played finals in 2002 and 2006.

 The Chilean who remains in the thick of the fight for a place in China, was unable to saddle number 29 Nieminen with a fourth straight loss in their series.

 The Finn who has been on a tear this week as his game suddenly picked up late in the closing stages of the season, scored another fighting win after a pair of comebacks to reach the last eight in recent days.

 "This week has been huge for me mentally, I've really improved my confidence," said Nieminen, who has now beaten three players in the Top 15 in since late summer.

 "My first round match (a fighting comeback over Robby Ginepri) can change a season. I had a great 2006 but I was losing tight matches against the better players.

 "I've managed to correct things now, I've got my confidence back and I just hope I can finish this season well and take a good feeling in 2008."

   Gonzalez held off a pair of match point chances in the crucial 10th game of the second set to break Nieminen, but then lost his own serve.

 Nieminen, owner of one career title, closed out the victory at 90 minutes to set up a Saturday showdown with either Baghdatis or Frenchman Paul-Henir Mathieu.

 Nieminen's last semi-final was last June in Halle, Germany after playing a semi in Marseille eight months ago.

 Gonzalez still stands on the bubble of provisional seventh place for the season-wrap-up event. He trails Spain's David Ferrer as three positions in the field will be decided next week at the Paris Masters.

 Already qualified: Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikloay Davydenko and Andy Roddick. By Bill Scott, dpa