Date:10/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/10/stories/2008051060822100.htm

Sport - Tennis

Federer falls to Stepanek

ROME: Roger Federer lost his sixth match of the year on Friday, falling to 27th-ranked Radek Stepanek 7-6(4), 7-6(7) in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters quarterfinals.

Federer surrendered a 5-2 lead in the second-set tiebreaker, and wasted a set point at 6-5 on Stepanek’s serve by hitting into the net.

“Usually when I have a lead I don’t let it go, so it’s quite disappointing,” Federer said. “I played so poorly on the big points.” In the other half of the draw, Stanislas Wawrinka rallied past eighth-seeded James Blake 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-1.

Jankovic, Serena lose

It was a day of upsets at the German Open in Berlin, with fourth seed Jelena Jankovic falling to Elena Dementieva, the seventh seed and fifth seeded Serena Williams losing to Dinara Safina, in the quarterfinals.

It was a 17-match winning streak for Williams that Safina ended, with a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5) victory on Friday.

The results: At Rome (Rome Masters): Quarterfinals: Radek Stepanek bt Roger Federer 7-6(4), 7-6(7); Stanislas Wawrinka bt James Blake 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-1.

At Berlin (German Open): Quarterfinals: Elena Dementieva bt Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; Dinara Safina bt Serena Williams 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(5); Victoria Azarenka bt Alona Bondarenko 7-6(2), 6-2. — Agencies