Date:04/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080453711700.htm

Sport - Tennis

Djokovic stuns Nadal

Stops the Spaniard’s great run

— Photo: AP

Novak Djokovic.

CINCINNATI: Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 6-1, 7-5 on Saturday to reach the final of the Cincinnati Masters and bring the Spaniard’s 32-match unbeaten streak to a halt.

Serb Djokovic will meet Andy Murray in the final after the 21-year-old Briton overcame giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic in the day’s other semifinal.

Nadal, who is set to replace Roger Federer as world number one, was a shadow of the player who romped to the Wimbledon and French Open titles this year. He conceded before the match that he was struggling.

“No one is unbeatable but the way he was playing we all thought he’s not going to lose any time soon,” said Djokovic.

Safina vs Cibulkova

At Montreal, Dinara Safina reached her third WTA title match of the year with a 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 win over Victoria Azarenka in the Rogers Cup semifinals on Saturday.

The Russian’s opponent in the final will be Dominika Cibulkova, who ousted Marion Bartoli 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Title for Wozniacki

Caroline Wozniacki routed Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Nordic Light Open for her first WTA title.

The results:

At Cincinnati (Western & Southern Financial Group Masters): Semifinals: Singles: Andy Murray bt Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4; Novak Djokovic bt Rafael Nadal 6-1, 7-5. Doubles: Bob and Mike Bryan bt Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles 4-6, 7-6(7), 10-8 tiebreak.

At Montreal: Semifinals: Dominika Cibulkova bt Marion Bartoli 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Dinara Safina bt Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

At Stockholm (WTA tournament): Final: Caroline Wozniacki bt Vera Dushevina 6-0, 6-2. Semifinals: Dushevina bt Katarina Srebotnic 6-1, 6-2; Wozniacki bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-1.