Kuala Lumpur  - Top seed Nikolay Davydenko streaked to his 40th win of the season at the expense of Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3 Friday to move into the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open.

The Russian who owns two clay titles in 2009, will face off Saturday against French Open finalist Robin Soderling after the Swede dispatched Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-2.

Soderling, who lost to Roger Federer for the Roland Garros title four months ago, has now won five of the last six meetings in that series.

Davydenko couldn't manage an ace but did break the exhausted Monfils four times. The 13th-ranked French player had sprinted to Asia after winning his second career title last weekend at home in Metz, arriving late and forced onto court within hours of touching down.

Soderling powered through over Berdych in just 64 minutes with five aces and four breaks of serve.

In the bottom of the draw at the Putra stadium, Russian Mikhail Youzhny plays fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile while Spanish second seed Fernando Verdasco takes on Richard Gasquet of France. (dpa)