Berdych stuns Djokovic as Serena rolls on
Source: Agencies |
May 18, 2013, Saturday
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TOP-RANKED Novak Djokovic wasted a chance to serve out the match and was beaten 6-2, 5-7, 4-6 by sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych in the Italian Open quarterfinals in Rome yesterday while Serena Williams is on the longest winning streak of her career. And she feels better than ever at age 31.
It's the second consecutive week that Djokovic has struggled, having also lost to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the second round of the Madrid Open, where he was bothered by a right ankle injury.
Djokovic said he had been playing pain free this week.
Still, he will need to get his game in shape in a hurry with the French Open less than 10 days away. Roland Garros begins on May 26.
Djokovic served for the second set at 5-3 but Berdych, who had lost to the Serb in their last 14 meetings, ripped a backhand winner that landed on the line on his first break point and won the final four games of the set.
Earlier, Williams, the top-ranked American, rolled past Spanish opponent Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-0 to reach the semifinals and extend her victory run to 22 matches.
Williams had twice won 21 in a row before, although both of those streaks came a decade ago, in 2002 and 2003.
Martina Navratilova established the longest women's win streak in the Open Era at 74 matches in 1984.
"I've been pretty consistent, and pretty healthy - knock on wood," Williams said. "I feel great - never felt better."
Williams will next face Romanian qualifier Simona Halep, who ousted two-time Rome winner Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-0, 7-5. The former top-ranked Serb had beaten fifth seed Li Na of China in the previous round.
In the other half of the draw, two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia withdrew before her quarterfinal against seventh-seeded Italian Sara Errani due to illness.
In other men's action, 36th-ranked Benoit Paire of France routed Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-1, 6-0 to reach his first Masters series semifinal. His next opponent will be either 17-time grand slam winner Roger Federer or rising Polish player Jerzy Janowicz.
It's the second consecutive week that Djokovic has struggled, having also lost to Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the second round of the Madrid Open, where he was bothered by a right ankle injury.
Djokovic said he had been playing pain free this week.
Still, he will need to get his game in shape in a hurry with the French Open less than 10 days away. Roland Garros begins on May 26.
Djokovic served for the second set at 5-3 but Berdych, who had lost to the Serb in their last 14 meetings, ripped a backhand winner that landed on the line on his first break point and won the final four games of the set.
Earlier, Williams, the top-ranked American, rolled past Spanish opponent Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-0 to reach the semifinals and extend her victory run to 22 matches.
Williams had twice won 21 in a row before, although both of those streaks came a decade ago, in 2002 and 2003.
Martina Navratilova established the longest women's win streak in the Open Era at 74 matches in 1984.
"I've been pretty consistent, and pretty healthy - knock on wood," Williams said. "I feel great - never felt better."
Williams will next face Romanian qualifier Simona Halep, who ousted two-time Rome winner Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-0, 7-5. The former top-ranked Serb had beaten fifth seed Li Na of China in the previous round.
In the other half of the draw, two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia withdrew before her quarterfinal against seventh-seeded Italian Sara Errani due to illness.
In other men's action, 36th-ranked Benoit Paire of France routed Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-1, 6-0 to reach his first Masters series semifinal. His next opponent will be either 17-time grand slam winner Roger Federer or rising Polish player Jerzy Janowicz.
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