/ 30 May 2011

Nadal into last eight, Djokovic gets semis pass

Nadal Into Last Eight

Five-time champion Rafael Nadal reached the French Open last eight on Monday as title rival Novak Djokovic enjoyed a major psychological boost when he was handed a free pass into the semifinals.

Top seed Nadal enjoyed a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 win over Croatian veteran Ivan Ljubicic and could next face Roland Garros bogeyman Robin Soderling, the only player to have beaten the great Spaniard in Paris in 43 matches.

Djokovic, meanwhile, was excused quarterfinal duty when scheduled opponent Fabio Fognini of Italy withdrew with a torn left thigh muscle.

Nadal, bidding for a sixth French Open title to take him level with Bjorn Borg, has looked a shadow of his usual self in Paris, shaken by the super-charged form of Djokovic, who could take his title and number one spot before the week is out.

“There was a lot of wind today, which made it very awkward,” said Nadal.

“I played better in the last two sets and I am getting a little better as the tournament goes on.”

On Monday, he was a break to the good to lead 2-1 in the opening set before Ljubicic, a 2006 semifinalist, hit back for 3-3.

‘The best tennis of my career’
Nadal stepped up the pressure on the Croatian’s serve, however, and snatched the set when Ljubicic sent his single-handed backhand wide.

Two breaks in the seventh and ninth games of the second set helped Nadal stretch his lead, the set secured with a smart, down-the-line whipped forehand.

A break for 3-1 in the third set seemed to be the foundation that the 24-year-old required, but Ljubicic, who at 32 is the oldest man left in the draw, hit back for 2-3.

But an immediate break to love gave Nadal a 4-2 lead and he claimed the tie in the ninth game when Ljubicic again went long with a loose backhand.

Fognini, who had been due to play his first career Grand Slam quarterfinal, suffered a tournament-ending injury in his marathon five-set fourth-round win over Albert Montanes on Sunday.

“It’s the most difficult decision I’ve made. It was my first Grand Slam quarterfinal and I am playing the best tennis of my career,” said Fognini, the first Italian man to reach the last eight in Paris since Renzo Furlan in 1995.

“I was crying last night. I had the treatment and I decided to retire. I had another scan this morning and we knew that to play would aggravate the injury to the left thigh. It was too risky. But this is sport, this is tennis.”

Feeling younger
Djokovic said he felt sympathy for Fognini, a player he has defeated in both of their career meetings.

“Walkover from Fognini. Bad luck for him, hope he recovers fast. Today I get to enjoy Paris in a different way,” wrote the Serb on Twitter.

French ninth seed Gael Monfils, a 2008 semifinalist, set-up a last eight clash with third seed Roger Federer after defeating Spain’s David Ferrer, the seventh seed, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 8-6.

Monfils had led by two sets to one when the tie was suspended on Sunday night and despite squandering three match points in the ninth and 11th games of the decider on Monday, the 24-year-old eventually held his nerve.

Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela shattered Alejandro Falla’s dreams of becoming the first Colombian man to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 win.

He will face either British fourth seed Andy Murray, who is carrying an ankle injury, or Serbia’s Victor Troicki for a place in the semifinals.

“I was sure I’d never get to this stage again because of my age,” said 31-year-old Chela, who made the last eight in 2004. “Now I feel younger.”

Fifth seed Soderling, who has reached the last two finals, losing to Federer in 2009 and Nadal in 2010, was tackling French 18th seed Gilles Simon later on Monday for a place in the last eight. — AFP