Zheng earns berth in the quarterfinals as Federer bows out
Source: Agencies |
March 18, 2010, Thursday
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TOP-RANKED Roger Federer wasted three match points and then lost to Marcos Baghdatis 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (4) on Tuesday night in a third-round upset at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California.
On the women's side, China's Zheng Jie defeated Australia's Alicia Molik 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1) to set up a quarterfinal match with second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki.
The Dane advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 victory over 16th-seeded Nadia Petrova.
But the day belonged to Baghdatis. He bent down and kissed the court after his first win over Federer in seven matches.
Federer hadn't lost when having a match point since 2006 in Rome.
It was the Swiss star's second loss in 13 matches this year, and in his first tournament since winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Federer had his third match point on Baghdatis' serve in the 12th game, but he netted a backhand for deuce. Baghdatis went up and then forced the tiebreaker when Federer mishit a backhand return that sailed high over the baseline.
Federer played some loose points in the tiebreaker, committing seven errors that included netting a forehand volley to give Baghdatis a match point, which the Cypriot converted as Federer's backhand return sailed long.
Federer's loss leaves the tournament without its top seeds, with Svetlana Kuznetsova already knocked out on the women's side.
Among the men advancing to the fourth round were No. 4 Andy Murray and No. 7 Andy Roddick, No. 8 Robin Soderling and No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
7 aces for Murray
Roddick defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 to improve his record to 17-3 this season, all on hardcourts.
The seventh-seeded American will next play No. 22 Jurgen Melzer, who advanced when Simon Greul withdrew because of illness.
"Jurgen is always tough. He's capable of playing a couple different ways," Roddick said. "He was capable of coming forward, attacking, really being the aggressor, which is always a little bit uncomfortable. It's important to hang on to your service games."
Australian Open finalist Murray served seven aces and was broken just once in defeating 31-year-old American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5.
James Blake lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to Nicolas Almagro of Spain.
In fourth-round women's play, No. 4 Elena Dementieva of Russia beat No. 19 Aravane Rezai of France 6-3, 6-3, sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic routed No. 17 Shahar Peer of Israel 6-2, 6-2, and No. 8 Samantha Stosur of Australia ousted defending champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-2, 7-5.
Wozniacki is the highest seeded woman left, with Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin among the big names already gone.
No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year.
On the women's side, China's Zheng Jie defeated Australia's Alicia Molik 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1) to set up a quarterfinal match with second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki.
The Dane advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 victory over 16th-seeded Nadia Petrova.
But the day belonged to Baghdatis. He bent down and kissed the court after his first win over Federer in seven matches.
Federer hadn't lost when having a match point since 2006 in Rome.
It was the Swiss star's second loss in 13 matches this year, and in his first tournament since winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
Federer had his third match point on Baghdatis' serve in the 12th game, but he netted a backhand for deuce. Baghdatis went up and then forced the tiebreaker when Federer mishit a backhand return that sailed high over the baseline.
Federer played some loose points in the tiebreaker, committing seven errors that included netting a forehand volley to give Baghdatis a match point, which the Cypriot converted as Federer's backhand return sailed long.
Federer's loss leaves the tournament without its top seeds, with Svetlana Kuznetsova already knocked out on the women's side.
Among the men advancing to the fourth round were No. 4 Andy Murray and No. 7 Andy Roddick, No. 8 Robin Soderling and No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
7 aces for Murray
Roddick defeated Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 to improve his record to 17-3 this season, all on hardcourts.
The seventh-seeded American will next play No. 22 Jurgen Melzer, who advanced when Simon Greul withdrew because of illness.
"Jurgen is always tough. He's capable of playing a couple different ways," Roddick said. "He was capable of coming forward, attacking, really being the aggressor, which is always a little bit uncomfortable. It's important to hang on to your service games."
Australian Open finalist Murray served seven aces and was broken just once in defeating 31-year-old American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5.
James Blake lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to Nicolas Almagro of Spain.
In fourth-round women's play, No. 4 Elena Dementieva of Russia beat No. 19 Aravane Rezai of France 6-3, 6-3, sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic routed No. 17 Shahar Peer of Israel 6-2, 6-2, and No. 8 Samantha Stosur of Australia ousted defending champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-2, 7-5.
Wozniacki is the highest seeded woman left, with Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin among the big names already gone.
No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year.
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