Rome Masters: Rafael Nadal to meet Novak Djokovic; Roger Federer out
There were contrasting fortunes for tennis superstars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in two of the most-anticipated generational battles at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Thursday. The Swiss maestro, whose movement was restricted because of his ailing back, was shown the door by the in-form 22-year-old Austrian Dominic Thiem, 6(2)-7, 4-6.
Nadal, on the other hand, managed to survive the onslaught from his 2014 Wimbledon conqueror Nick Kyrgios, 6(3)-7, 6-2, 6-4.
Djokovic stretched
Up next for him is the World No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic, who had an equally tough day at the office. The Serb lost a set 0-6 for the first time since 2012 but managed to steer the ship for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Brazil’s 37th ranked Thomaz Bellucci.
The top seed looked totally off-colour in the opening set and won just eight points while being broken three times. But, like he has done so many times in the past, Djokovic succeeding in pushing the setback out of his mind and made a fresh start to the match.
He broke the Brazilian once in the second set and followed it up with two breaks of serve in the decider to earn his 49th meeting with Nadal.
The seven-time winner, meanwhile, had a set point in the first set against Kyrgios which the Australian wiped away with some great serves. In the tie-break, the Spaniard made a double fault at a crucial juncture after which it went Kyrgios’ way. The 14-time Grand Slam champion came back strongly after that to secure his 49th win at the Italian capital.
Andy Murray, in contrast, had a comfortable outing as he prevailed 6-0, 6-4 over the 32nd ranked Jeremy Chardy.
Tomas Berdych suffers first ever double bagel loss
Eighth seed Tomas Berdych suffered the first ever double bagel loss of his career when he was blanked 0-6, 0-6 by the 12th seed David Goffin. The Belgian dropped just 15 points in a master class performance to record his third top-10 victory.
Federer and Berdych were not the only seeds to bite the dust as the fourth seed Stan Wawrinka and ninth seed David Ferrer too fell. Wawrinka, who reached the semi-finals last year, was upset 7-6(5), 3-6, 4-6 by Juan Monaco, who is making his comeback from injury this year.
2013 French Open runner-up Ferrer’s woes continue after a 4-6, 1-6 loss to lucky loser Lucas Pouille. Madrid semi-finalist Kei Nishikori, seeded sixth, got the better of 11th seeded Richard Gasquet, 6-1, 6-4.
WTA – Serena in quarters
World No. 1 Serena Williams, who has returned to competition after suffering from flu, had a slow start to her Round of 16 match against compatriot Christina McHale. The 21-time Grand Slam winner trailed by a break but regrouped for the 7-6(7), 6-1 win.
In the last-eight stage, the three-time Rome champion faces the very woman who beat her at her last tournament in Miami – ninth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. The two-time former runner-up survived a roller-coaster match against 2015 semi-finalist Daria Gavrilova to emerge a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 winner.
There were no such troubles for the third seed Garbine Muguruza who cantered to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over the 18-year-old Jelena Ostapenko. 11th seed Timea Bacsinszky, though, had to work hard for her 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 triumph over eighth seed and 2015 runner-up Carla Suarez Navarro.
The other winners of the day included Irina-Camelia Begu, Madison Keys, Misaki Doi and Barbora Strycova. While Doi outlasted the British No. 1 Johanna Konta, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, Strycova thrashed the resurgent Eugenie Bouchard 6-1, 6-0.