Nadal, Federer sent packing
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2011, Sunday
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A WEARY Rafael Nadal and a wayward Roger Federer were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, on Friday, while No. 1 Novak Djokovic needed three sets to scrape into the semifinals.
Playing a day after he spent five hours on court, Nadal faded in a 3-6, 4-6 loss to American Mardy Fish, who had never beaten the second-ranked Spaniard.
Third-seeded Federer struggled with his groundstrokes during a 2-6, 6-7 (3) loss to Tomas Berdych, who has won three of their past four matches
Djokovic survived a match of long rallies and electrifying shots, beating France's Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, while Andy Murray advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon of France.
In the wide-open women's bracket, second-seeded Vera Zvonareva, No. 4 Maria Sharapova and No. 9 Andrea Petkovic advanced in straight sets. Jelena Jankovic moved into the semifinals when China's Peng Shuai withdrew with a sore left hip.
Fourth-seeded Sharapova advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over 10th seed Samantha Stosur. Sharapova, who lost in last year's final to Kim Clijsters, won a challenge on match point to improve to 3-0 this year and 9-0 in her career against the Australian.
"I did many good things today that caused her a lot of trouble," Sharapova said. "I didn't give her much time to do the things she likes to do."
Sharapova's semifinal opponent will be Russian compatriot Zvonareva, who beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 7-6 (6). Petkovic defeated unseeded Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1 and will face Jankovic.
The men's event finally got its first big upsets.
A worn-out Nadal simply couldn't keep up. Fish reached the tournament's semifinals for the second straight year - he lost to Federer in the championship match in 2010.
"It was a great opportunity for me, catching him in a place where he maybe was not as confident as in his previous matches or tournaments," said Fish, who counted it among his top five career wins.
Nadal's tired legs and burned fingertips had something to do with it.
A day earlier, the 25-year-old Spaniard needed three tiebreakers and three hours, 38 minutes to beat Fernando Verdasco. That was followed by a 70-minute doubles match. He ended the day with blisters on his left foot.
Plus, his right hand was bothering him - he burned the tips of his index and middle fingers on a hot plate at a restaurant before the tournament began and had to play with them heavily bandaged.
"I didn't play well here, especially," Nadal said. "A little bit unlucky week for me with the burned fingers and the very long match yesterday."
Fish, the highest-ranked American on the tour at No. 7, will play fourth-seeded Murray in the semifinals, while Djokovic will take on Berdych.
Monfils broke Djokovic's serve to open the match and set the tone. He made spectacular shots - Djokovic even patted his racket in appreciation - while pulling ahead 4-3 in the second set. Djokovic broke him to go up 5-4 and finally take control. The Serb broke him again to start the third set, and again to finish it.
Djokovic bore down over the 1-hour, 53-minute match, improving to 56-1 this season and 32-0 on hardcourts.
Federer had trouble with his groundstrokes and never had a chance to break Berdych's serve. The Swiss star had an uncharacteristic 29 unforced errors and hit three forehands wide during the tiebreaker.
Playing a day after he spent five hours on court, Nadal faded in a 3-6, 4-6 loss to American Mardy Fish, who had never beaten the second-ranked Spaniard.
Third-seeded Federer struggled with his groundstrokes during a 2-6, 6-7 (3) loss to Tomas Berdych, who has won three of their past four matches
Djokovic survived a match of long rallies and electrifying shots, beating France's Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, while Andy Murray advanced with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon of France.
In the wide-open women's bracket, second-seeded Vera Zvonareva, No. 4 Maria Sharapova and No. 9 Andrea Petkovic advanced in straight sets. Jelena Jankovic moved into the semifinals when China's Peng Shuai withdrew with a sore left hip.
Fourth-seeded Sharapova advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over 10th seed Samantha Stosur. Sharapova, who lost in last year's final to Kim Clijsters, won a challenge on match point to improve to 3-0 this year and 9-0 in her career against the Australian.
"I did many good things today that caused her a lot of trouble," Sharapova said. "I didn't give her much time to do the things she likes to do."
Sharapova's semifinal opponent will be Russian compatriot Zvonareva, who beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 7-6 (6). Petkovic defeated unseeded Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1 and will face Jankovic.
The men's event finally got its first big upsets.
A worn-out Nadal simply couldn't keep up. Fish reached the tournament's semifinals for the second straight year - he lost to Federer in the championship match in 2010.
"It was a great opportunity for me, catching him in a place where he maybe was not as confident as in his previous matches or tournaments," said Fish, who counted it among his top five career wins.
Nadal's tired legs and burned fingertips had something to do with it.
A day earlier, the 25-year-old Spaniard needed three tiebreakers and three hours, 38 minutes to beat Fernando Verdasco. That was followed by a 70-minute doubles match. He ended the day with blisters on his left foot.
Plus, his right hand was bothering him - he burned the tips of his index and middle fingers on a hot plate at a restaurant before the tournament began and had to play with them heavily bandaged.
"I didn't play well here, especially," Nadal said. "A little bit unlucky week for me with the burned fingers and the very long match yesterday."
Fish, the highest-ranked American on the tour at No. 7, will play fourth-seeded Murray in the semifinals, while Djokovic will take on Berdych.
Monfils broke Djokovic's serve to open the match and set the tone. He made spectacular shots - Djokovic even patted his racket in appreciation - while pulling ahead 4-3 in the second set. Djokovic broke him to go up 5-4 and finally take control. The Serb broke him again to start the third set, and again to finish it.
Djokovic bore down over the 1-hour, 53-minute match, improving to 56-1 this season and 32-0 on hardcourts.
Federer had trouble with his groundstrokes and never had a chance to break Berdych's serve. The Swiss star had an uncharacteristic 29 unforced errors and hit three forehands wide during the tiebreaker.
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