A near-flawless display ensured the world No1 was detained on Centre Court for just 1hr 41min.

He cruised to a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win over the Russian to set up what is expected to be another showdown with Rafael Nadal in the final.

Nadal had to overcome Germany's Rainer Schuettler in last night's second semi-final to keep that appointment.

But everything points to a potential classic tomorrow, with Federer insisting he is ready to avenge the mauling he received at the hands of his Spanish rival in last month's French Open final.

'It is great,' Federer said after wrapping up what was his 65th straight win on grass. 'It is a beautiful feeling to have the opportunity to win the title again here.'

He is bidding to become the first player to win six consecutive titles at the All England Club since the 19th century.

Federer said he had been surprised by the many predictions that Nadal would deny him the place in history.

'Nadal has been playing fantastically but don't write me off ... because this is my part of the season, Wimbledon and the US Open.'

Safin came into the match having won five successive matches for the first time since he claimed the second of his two Grand Slam titles at the 2005 Australian Open.

But any confidence he had as a result of that run, which included a straight-sets win over third seed Novak Djokovic, began to dissolve almost immediately as Federer sandwiched two service games to love around a break in the second game of the match.

The only sniff of a chance Safin had in the opening set came when he got his opponent to 30-30 in the ninth game. The world No1 responded with an ace and a service winner to wrap up the set in just 25 minutes.

Safin managed to generate a couple of break points in the fourth game of the second. But under-powered service returns on both of them ensured he did not get a chance to convert either one.

The 28-year-old was even less convincing in the tiebreak, granting Federer control with unforced backhand errors on three of the first four points.

As Federer rolled off another service game to love in the third game of the third set, Safin could see no way back.

Federer then moved into a 5-4 lead, as the Russian was handed a warning by the umpire for flinging his racket to the ground.

He wrapped things up in the next game, whipping a topspin backhand across court.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Wimbledon: Day 13
Live, Ch24, 8.30pm