Melzer ousts Nadal, Federer, Murray win
By Alix Ramsay |
October 15, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN out-of-sorts Rafael Nadal was sent packing from the Shanghai Rolex Masters last night, beaten 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 by Austrian Jurgen Melzer.
The world No. 1 from Spain and one of the favorites for the title this week, looked a little jaded in his opening match on Wednesday and has admitted to being tired as the season draws to a close.
But while he may not have been at his sparkling best last night, Melzer raced out of the blocks like a sprinter. The Austrian clearly sensed that Nadal was there for the taking and he was not going to let this chance slip away.
Since he broke an 11-month title drought, winning the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April, Nadal has lost just four matches and won seven titles, and three of them have been grand slams.
But while becoming the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open champion has pushed the Spaniard to the verge of greatness, it has come at a cost - Nadal is not only physically tired, he is mentally exhausted.
Desperately trying to shake some life back into his legs, he chased Melzer all the way to the finish line.
Battling back in the second set, he seemed to have grabbed the momentum but it was not to last.
As Melzer settled his nerves and refocused at the start of the third set, Nadal could not keep pace with his stronger, fresher rival. He did manage to fend off three match points in the eighth game of that set, but he could not stop the inevitable. Serving for the match, Melzer was not going to be stopped this time.
This is the first time in seven meetings that Melzer has defeated Nadal.
Also, world No. 3 Roger Federer breezed past Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-4 in a late match.
Andy Murray advanced into the quarterfinals with a clean and efficient 6-3, 6-4 win over Jeremy Chardy. Not only did he move one step closer to the trophy in Shanghai but he also secured his ticket to the World Tour Finals in London next month. With every match that passes, Murray is getting nearer to his top form and yesterday's performance was another major stepping stone for him.
"I think it's a great achievement to qualify for the Tour Finals," Murray said.
"So, obviously, I'm very happy to have done it with a few tournaments left. Today actually was a good match. I was happy with the way I played, too, which helps."
He now plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, the 7-5, 6-3 winner over Germany's Florian Mayer.
Novak Djokovic barely had to get out of second gear as he motored into the last eight with the simplest of 6-1, 6-1 wins over Richard Gasquet. The Frenchman was exhausted after playing two matches the previous day, thanks to the persistent rain, and he had nothing left to give against the world No. 2 Djokovic.
"I did really well from the start. I put pressure on him. I was aggressive and I knew I had to be," said the US Open runner-up Djokovic who secured his 18th career title at the China Open on Monday.
Djokovic now faces Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the surprise 7-6, 6-3 winner over Tomas Berdych, the No. 7 seed.
The world No. 1 from Spain and one of the favorites for the title this week, looked a little jaded in his opening match on Wednesday and has admitted to being tired as the season draws to a close.
But while he may not have been at his sparkling best last night, Melzer raced out of the blocks like a sprinter. The Austrian clearly sensed that Nadal was there for the taking and he was not going to let this chance slip away.
Since he broke an 11-month title drought, winning the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April, Nadal has lost just four matches and won seven titles, and three of them have been grand slams.
But while becoming the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open champion has pushed the Spaniard to the verge of greatness, it has come at a cost - Nadal is not only physically tired, he is mentally exhausted.
Desperately trying to shake some life back into his legs, he chased Melzer all the way to the finish line.
Battling back in the second set, he seemed to have grabbed the momentum but it was not to last.
As Melzer settled his nerves and refocused at the start of the third set, Nadal could not keep pace with his stronger, fresher rival. He did manage to fend off three match points in the eighth game of that set, but he could not stop the inevitable. Serving for the match, Melzer was not going to be stopped this time.
This is the first time in seven meetings that Melzer has defeated Nadal.
Also, world No. 3 Roger Federer breezed past Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-4 in a late match.
Andy Murray advanced into the quarterfinals with a clean and efficient 6-3, 6-4 win over Jeremy Chardy. Not only did he move one step closer to the trophy in Shanghai but he also secured his ticket to the World Tour Finals in London next month. With every match that passes, Murray is getting nearer to his top form and yesterday's performance was another major stepping stone for him.
"I think it's a great achievement to qualify for the Tour Finals," Murray said.
"So, obviously, I'm very happy to have done it with a few tournaments left. Today actually was a good match. I was happy with the way I played, too, which helps."
He now plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, the 7-5, 6-3 winner over Germany's Florian Mayer.
Novak Djokovic barely had to get out of second gear as he motored into the last eight with the simplest of 6-1, 6-1 wins over Richard Gasquet. The Frenchman was exhausted after playing two matches the previous day, thanks to the persistent rain, and he had nothing left to give against the world No. 2 Djokovic.
"I did really well from the start. I put pressure on him. I was aggressive and I knew I had to be," said the US Open runner-up Djokovic who secured his 18th career title at the China Open on Monday.
Djokovic now faces Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, the surprise 7-6, 6-3 winner over Tomas Berdych, the No. 7 seed.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
