Tennis Update: Cincinnati Masters Update- Reigning world number one, Nadal out of the tournament by Baghdatis
Two of the leading players in current tennis rankings were dumped out of the last eights stage of the Cincinnati Masters tennis championship that has thrown up quite a few surprises with the top guns in the games battling it out for supremacy.
In the biggest shock to date, World number one and reigning Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal bounced out of the competition by his Cyprian opponent Marcos Baghdatis in a tense three set battle that lasted nearly two hours.
The Cypriot took full advantage of the conditions that suited his aggressive style of play, as he ensured that he puts a top performance against the best player in the world, toppling him on the Ohio hard-court with a 6-4 4-6 6-4.
Baghdatis has another big challenge in the semi finals awaiting him, as he now faces the man with the most grand slam wins in his career, who is currently ranked number two in the ATP rankings, Roger Federer.
The other semi-final encounter to decide the second finalist in the tournament would see compatriots Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish squaring up for an all American pre-final.
In his win over Nadal, the Cypriot was helped by a double-fault by his opponent on a break point with set delicately poised at 4-4 in the deciding set.
The opportunity was fully capitalized by Baghdatis, who is ranked 20th in the world, as he served out for the match in the next game, he than duly completed the job to record one of the best wins of his professional career.
On the other hand, an all American semi-final provides a great opportunity for the game in the country, as currently there is not even a single top ten who will make the cut to the final grand slam of the year the U.S Open set to later this month
One of the mainstays of the American game, Roddick looks in fine fettle for his semi-final clash after easing past Swede Robin Soderling on Thursday, which followed a comfortable 6-4 7-5 win Serbian World number two Djokovic, who would be replaced by Federer at the second spot after this event.
His opponent in the semi would be the talented Fish, who prevailed over a tired and jaded world number four Andy Murray of Britain, who struggled to cope with the sweltering conditions losing out in a tough three set battle 6-7 6-1 7-6.
The 36th ranked player in the world has had the wood over the Brit sending him packing in three tournaments this year, which include triumphs in Miami and at Queen's Club on the eve of the Wimbledon in London.
Murray fresh form his win over Roger Federer in the finals of the Toronto Masters last week scored a win in the opening set tiebreak despite producing his first double-fault at 5-5, the second set belonged to Fish who capitalized on the tiredness of his opponent.
In the final set, both players fought tooth and nail and it was eventually Fish who emerged victorious against his frustrated opponent, who made no effort of hiding his emotions as he smashed the ball out of the stadium after losing a rally on the penultimate point in the match.
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