Federer reaches quarter-final of Halle while Roddick exits Queens
Roger Federer continued his fine form on grass court season when he defeated Colombian Alejandro Falla to secure his place in the quarter-finals of the Queens. It took World No.2 Roger Federer 51 minutes to get pass Falla for a place in last eight. On the other hand, Roddick and Djokovic exited the Queens after both players lost their third round matches.
Federer, who won Halle Open five times before eased pass the Colombian with the score of 6-1, 6-2. Halle Open is considered as a warm-up event before the Wimbledon Championship. Federer hardly faced a challenge from the Colombian as he wrapped up both sets convincingly. The 16-time Grand Slam champion will now face Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany for a place in last four. Kohlschreiber defeated Federer compatriot Marco Chiudinelli to book his place against the World No. 2. The German won the match with a score of 6-4, 7-5. Another German Mischa Zverev defeated this years’ Roland Garros semi-finalist Juergen Melzer in a surprise result. Sixth seed Melzer lost the match to young German with the score of 3-6, 7-6, and 7-6. Melzer started the match strongly as he sealed the first set convincingly. However, it was the energy and stamina of Zverev which helped German to overcome experience of Austrian Melzer. Zverev sealed the remaining two sets in tie-break to book his place in last eight.
On the other hand, top seed Nadal picked up another victory on the Queen’s Club lawns when he defeated Uzbek Denis Istomin. Surprisingly Uzbek Istomin showed some brave resistance to Nadal’s onslaught to take the match in three sets. The 2008 Queens Champion also faced some fitness problems during the match. He was given a medical treatment on his back during his match against resilient Uzbek. Nadal overcame Uzbek with the score of 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4 to book his place in last eight. Nadal started the match strongly as he won the opening game. But Istomin fought back to break Nadal serve and seal second set. It was during the second set that Nadal needed medical treatment to continue the match. Later Nadal came back strongly as his ferocious onslaught was unstoppable for the un-seeded Uzbek. Nadal will now face his fellow compatriot Feliciano Lopez for a place in the last four. Meanwhile, in a shocking development American Andy Roddick and Serbian Novak Djokovic are tumbled out of the tournament.
Former Australian Open Champion lost to Belgium’s Xavier Malisse in a three set match. Malisse defeated the Serbian with the score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Djokovic looked out of form as he committed too many unforced errors. Similarly, Roddick lost to Israel’s Dudi Sela in another upset. Sela defeated the American 6-4, 7-6. Sela played against Roddick convincingly as he gave a single break point in the entire match. Sela will face German Rainer Schuettler for a place in the last four. Schuettler reached the quarter-finals after French Richard Gasquet pulled out of the match due to his back injury. Another big name exit was of Croatian Marin Cilic as he was defeated by French Michael Llodra 7-6, 6-2. Like Halle Open, Queens Club is also considered a prelude to Wimbledon and essential for players to tune-up before the grass surface Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, Sania Mirza comeback streak was halted when she lost to Tamarine Tanasugarn in the second round of WTA grass court Edgbaston Classic event. Mirza lost the match to the Thai with the score of 4-6, 7-5 and 6-1 in a match that spread over two days due to rain. Despite winning the opening game, she could not sustain her lead as Tanasugarn fought back to win the remaining two set and book her place in last eight. Additionally, former World No.1 and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova won two matches in a single day as organizer scheduled her matches in a single day due to continuous rain interruptions in Birmingham. Sharapova first defeated American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-0, 6-3 and later won against her against compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva with the score of 6-3, 6-1. Another highlight of the day was the defeat of British 16-year old Laura Robson by Yanina Wickmayer.
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