Date:02/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/02/stories/2008030253111900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Soderling stuns Roddick

Memphis: Robin Soderling of Sweden upset top-seeded Andy Roddick 7-6(6), 6-3 in the Regions Morgan Keegan tennis championships quarterfinals on Friday, ending the American’s bid to win in consecutive weeks.

The eighth-seeded Swede served up 16 aces and won all but nine points on his serve and 14 of 18 on his second serve.

Roddick said Soderling outplayed him in what he thought would be his toughest match this week.

“You look at his career record indoors. I think he’s over 3-1 in wins to losses. Outdoors, I think he’s flirting with .500,” Roddick said. Soderling will play fourth-seeded Radek Stepanek, who beat Chris Guccione of Australia 7-6(4), 6-1.

Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman saved a match point in beating American teenager Donald Young 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(6) and will play Steve Darcis of Belgium, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Benjamin Becker of Germany.

On the women’s side, fourth-seeded Lindsay Davenport beat qualifier Marina Erakovic of New Zealand 6-0, 6-3 in 57 minutes.

Govortsova stuns Peer

Teenager Olga Govortsova of Belarus upset third-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the Memphis WTA semifinals.

The 19-year-old fifth seed shrugged off four double faults to scrape through a tight match in just under two hours and book a place in the title match with fourth-seeded Lindsay Davenport.

The results:

At Memphis (Memphis championships): Singles: Quarterfinals: Men: Radek Stepanek bt Chris Guccione 7-6(4), 6-1; Robin Soderling bt Andy Roddick 7-6(6), 6-3; Jonas Bjorkman bt Donald Young 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(6), Steve Darcis bt Benjamin Becker 6-1, 6-0.

Women: Semifinals: Lindsay Davenport bt Marina Erakovic 6-0, 6-3; Olga Govortsova bt Shahar Peer 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

At Acapulco (Acapulco International championships): Men: Semifinals: David Nalbandian bt Luis Horna 7-5, 6-1; Nicolas Almagro bt Josi Acasuso 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Women: Semifinals: Alize Cornet bt Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-2; Flavia Pennetta bt Kaia Kanepi 6-4, 6-2.

At Zagreb (ATP Zagreb Indoors): Semifinals: Ivan Ljubicic bt Mario Ancic 7-6(2) 6-4; Sergiy Stakhovsky bt Simone Bolelli 6-4, 6-4.

At Dubai (WTA Dubai Open): Semifinals: Elena Dementieva bt Francesca Schiavone 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.