Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Federer tumbles out of Aussie Open, Nadal safe
ROGER FEDERER is out of the Australian Open, his chances of reaching a 12th consecutive semi-final at Melbourne Park erased in a shocking thirdround loss to Andreas Seppi yesterday.
Rafael Nadal is still in contention, rebounding from his five-set, second-round win to beat No 106-ranked Dudi Sella 6-1, 6-0, 7-5 in a third-round match lasting a little over two hours to reach the fourth round.
No 2-ranked Federer came into the season’s first Major in form, winning the warm-up tournament at the Brisbane International and aiming for an 18th Grand Slam title. Nadal was coming off a lengthy stint on the sidelines, and hadn’t given himself much chance of collecting a 15th Major.
Federer had never lost to No 46-ranked Seppi in 10 previous meetings, but made some uncharacteristic errors including nine double-faults – one to surrender a mini break in the last tiebreaker – in the 6-4, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (5) defeat.
Seppi, a 30-year-old Italian who had only advanced beyond the second round once at his nine previous trips to the Australian Open, held his nerve despite some withering winners from Federer, who registered his 1 000th career match win in Brisbane.
Federer also had a 4-1 lead in the second-set tiebreaker and let it slide.
“I knew how important that second- set tiebreaker was – clearly that hurt, losing that one,” Federer said. “It just broke me to lose that second set. And actually the fourth, I should win it, too. Just a brutal couple of sets to lose there. The end wasn’t pretty.”
Federer has won the Australian title four times, and had reached the semi-finals or better at Melbourne Park every year since winning the championship for the first time in 2004. This was his earliest exit since 2001, when he also lost in the third round.
“I had to believe that I could win,” said Seppi, who said he stuck out his racket and hoped for the best on match point – a forehand that sailed past Federer and landed in the corner. “I was just trying to stay relaxed and just focusing on every shot and to breathe calm and don’t get nervous.
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“I think I did pretty well. Very well. I’m very happy I could manage the emotions.”
The 33- year- old Federer walked over to Seppi’s side of the net to shake his hand after the match, and applauded the crowd before he left the arena with his head lowered. It was only the second time in his last 43 Grand Slam tournaments that the Swiss star failed to at least reach the fourth round.
Seppi will almost certainly get another match on Rod Laver Arena for his fourthround meeting with Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios, who shrugged off concern over a nosebleed to beat Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-3, 7-6 (6), 6-1. Kyrgios has form in the fourth round, beating then No 1ranked Nadal at that stage at Wimbledon last year.
Nadal faces a fourthrounder against No 14 Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who beat No 24 Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6).
Three-time Australian Open finalist Andy Murray beat Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 to set up a fourth-round clash with No 10 Grigor Dimitrov, who had a tough third- rounder against 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis before winning 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Seventh- seeded Tomas Berdych needed eight match points before beating Viktor Troicki 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and will next play Bernard Tomic, who beat fellow Australian Sam Groth 6-4, 7-6 (8), 6-3.
On the women’s side, No 2ranked Maria Sharapova needed 61 minutes for her 6-1, 6-1 win over Zarina Diyas and will next meet No 21 Peng Shuai.
Eugenie Bouchard struggled through a scrappy opening set before getting on top in a 7-5, 6-0 third-round win over Caroline Garcia.
“Yeah, I don’t think it was the prettiest tennis out there,” said Bouchard, who reached the semi-finals in her first trip to Melbourne Park last year and went on to make the semifinals or better at two of the other three Majors.
Third-seeded Simona Halep advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands, missing twice when she served for the match in the eighth and 10th games. Halep, who opened the season by winning the Shenzhen Open in China, will next play Yanina Wickmayer, who beat No 14-seeded Sara Errani 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. – Sapa-AP