Djokovic loses to Edmund in Madrid; Nadal advances
MADRID: Novak Djokovic added another early elimination to his season, while Rafael Nadal continued to look invincible on clay. Djokovic lost to Kyle Edmund 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 on Wednesday in the second round of the Madrid Open, the sixth straight tournament in which he has failed to reach the quarterfinals.
Nadal later cruised past Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-1, extending his record of consecutive sets won on clay to 48. The 16-time Grand Slam champion, coming off titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, has won 37 of his last 38 matches on the surface, including 20 straight. Djokovic has struggled this year after saying he returned to action too quickly following a lingering right elbow injury.
“There are obvious things that are not working well for me,” the 12-time Grand Slam champion said. “But I have to keep working on them and pray that ... and hope that my game will get stronger.”
WOZNIACKI LOSES
MADRID: Caroline Wozniacki’s bid to reclaim the world No 1 ranking this week ended when she lost to world No 20 Kiki Bertens in the third round of the Madrid Open on Wednesday. Bertens, who reached the 2016 French Open semi-finals, beat the 27-year-old Dane 6-2, 6-2. Earlier on Wednesday, Halep strolled into the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Czech Kristyna Pliskova.
SERENA PULLS OUT
ROME: Former world No 1 Serena Williams has pulled out of next week’s Italian Open in Rome, organisers confirmed. Last week the 23-time Grand Slam winner pulled out of the Madrid WTA event due to a fever.
The American tennis star made her comeback in February, six months after giving birth to baby Olympia, when she competed at Indian Wells and Miami, but has admitted she is struggling to get fully fit.
‘MURRAY CAN RECOVER’
LONDON : Johanna Konta hopes fellow Briton Andy Murray will be in action at this year’s Wimbledon despite reports claiming that the Scot has suffered a setback in his recovery from hip surgery.
“I still hope he can (come back as planned),” Konta told reporters after losing to Bernarda Pera in the second round of the Madrid Open.