MADRID:
Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer served up another classic in the 24th chapter of their great rivalry with Nadal battling back from a set down to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 and secure a place in the Madrid Masters final.
Nadal and Federer, who have 26 grand slam singles titles between them, had met in the last two Madrid finals, the Swiss winning in 2009 and Nadal gaining revenge last year. The world number one is now bidding for a third claycourt title in a month after he won back-to-back at the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open in April.
The 24-year-old Spaniard’s win yesterday was his 37th consecutive victory on the red court since falling to Swede Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open.
Meanwhile, fourth-seed Victoria Azarenka moved to within one victory of a third title from her last four WTA events when she ended the hopes of Germany’s Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-final.
Aisam, Bopanna crash out
Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Indian doubles partner Rohan Bopanna were sent packing from the Madrid Open after a defeat at the hands of the American pair of John Isner and Sam Querrey.
The Indo-Pak Express lost 7-6,4-6, 3-10 in the men’s doubles quarter-final which lasted one hour and 31 minutes. However, Aisam and Bopanna earned 180 points each and split €20,100 for reaching the last-eight of the clay court ATP Masters tournament.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2011.
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