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Roger Federer was happy with his baseline play but conceded he needs to improve his serve after he got the better of Tomas Berdych in straight sets to make the semi-finals in Rome.

The Swiss was a 63 63 winner but was far from happy with a first serve percentage of 60 and just two aces.

“I think from the baseline I was playing very well, serve was not quite there at the beginning, I had to go through too many second serves and he was able to take advantage of that and break early,” said Federer.

“I’m guessing my first set percentage was probably 30-40. I just wanted to make sure I got that up and it felt good again on the return. I was moving well so as the match went on it was much better. The wind picked up in the second set, that’s when I think Tomas did not play so well anymore. I was able to get the job done and I’m very pleased.”

Federer will play countryman Stanislas Wawrinka on Saturday evening after his fellow Swiss player beat Rafael Nadal. But he claimed the latter should still be judged most likely winner in the French Open.

“It seems that he’s doing just fine and regardless to what anybody says to me, he is the favourite of the French Open,” he said. “That guy has only lost once in 10 years, there is no way passed that guy being the favourite for that tournament.”