Date:22/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/22/stories/2007102260752100.htm

Sport - Tennis

Nalbandian triumphs

— Photo: AFP

David Nalbandian exults after claiming the Madrid Masters on Sunday.

MADRID: David Nalbandian announced his return from nearly 18 months of indifferent results as he stunned top seed Roger Federer 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Madrid Masters.

The upset win from the world No. 25, who once stood among the elite, prevented a Swiss defence of the title.

Federer, playing in his first tournament since winning his fourth straight U.S. Open six weeks ago, fell to 6-4 in finals this season.

The Argentine became the second player this season to defeat the top three players in the world — Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the same event.

Djokovic had done it in Montreal.

Henin takes title

World No. 1 Justine Henin secured her ninth WTA title of the season on Sunday, beating French teenager Tatiana Golovin 6-4, 6-4 in the Zurich Open final.

The results: At Madrid (Madrid Masters): Final: David Nalbandian bt Roger Federer 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Semifinals: Nalbandian bt Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-6(4); Federer bt Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-4. Quarterfinals: Kiefer bt Fernando Gonzalez 7-6(5), 6-2; Federer bt Feliciano Lopez 7-6(4) 6-4.

At Zurich (WTA Zurich Open): Final: Justine Henin bt Tatiana Golovin 6-4, 6-4. Semifinals: Henin bt Nicole Vaidisova 3-6, 6-3, 7-5; Golovin bt Francesca Schiavone 6-0, 6-4. Quarterfinals: Golovin bt Marion Bartoli 4-5 (retd.); Henin bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-2; Schiavone bt Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 3-3 (retd.); Vaidisova bt Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4. — Agencies