Federer, Nadal through to semis
MADRID:
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are now closer to an epic final show down at the Madrid Open courtesy their straight-set quarter- final wins on Thursday.
World number one Federer came through against fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, carving out a 6-3, 6-1 win by breaking his Davis Cup teammate on a fourth opportunity in the second game of the match. Federer aced the first set after 42 minutes with his fifth ace and moved purposefully into the second with a break in the opening game and another in the third on his way to a comfortable win.
On the other hand, Nadal reached the quarter-finals for the sixth consecutive year when he smothered the huge serving of American 13th seed John Isner to claim a 7-5, 6-4 victory. Nadal is looking to set a new record for Master Series titles of 18, beating the current record he shares with Andre Agassi, who won his 17th at the age of 34 in 2004.
British third seed Andy Murray who has been aiming low this year eased past Romania’s Victor Hanescu 6-2, 6-1. Venus reaches semis World number three Venus Williams bulldozed her way to the semi-finals after beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-3, 6-3 yesterday. Williams will now meet the winner of the quarter-final between Israeli Shahar Peer and China’s Li Na.
Published in the Express Tribune, May 15th, 2010.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are now closer to an epic final show down at the Madrid Open courtesy their straight-set quarter- final wins on Thursday.
World number one Federer came through against fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, carving out a 6-3, 6-1 win by breaking his Davis Cup teammate on a fourth opportunity in the second game of the match. Federer aced the first set after 42 minutes with his fifth ace and moved purposefully into the second with a break in the opening game and another in the third on his way to a comfortable win.
On the other hand, Nadal reached the quarter-finals for the sixth consecutive year when he smothered the huge serving of American 13th seed John Isner to claim a 7-5, 6-4 victory. Nadal is looking to set a new record for Master Series titles of 18, beating the current record he shares with Andre Agassi, who won his 17th at the age of 34 in 2004.
British third seed Andy Murray who has been aiming low this year eased past Romania’s Victor Hanescu 6-2, 6-1. Venus reaches semis World number three Venus Williams bulldozed her way to the semi-finals after beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-3, 6-3 yesterday. Williams will now meet the winner of the quarter-final between Israeli Shahar Peer and China’s Li Na.
Published in the Express Tribune, May 15th, 2010.