Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092752882100.htm

Sport - Tennis

Sela upsets Robredo

BEIJING: Israel’s Dudi Sela played giant-killer again on Friday, upsetting sixth seed Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-4, 6-1 to sweep to his first ATP Tour semifinals at the China Open.

The 23-year-old Sela, who knocked out top seed David Ferrer on Thursday, overcame a nervous start to steamroll the World No. 16 in a display of controlled aggression and clean hitting.

After dropping his serve early in the first set, the 92nd-ranked Israeli began attacking Robredo’s serve, hitting deep into the Spaniard’s back-hand.

The tactic proved effective, a rattled Robredo surrendering the second set and winning only 54 percent of his first serves.

Sela faces a semifinal clash with seventh seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany who upset French World No.12 Richard Gasquet 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

The results: China Open: Men: Quarterfinals: Dudi Sela bt Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-1; Rainer Schuettler bt Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Bjorn Phau bt Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Andy Roddick bt Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Women: Quarterfinals: Zheng Jie bt Ana Ivanovic 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4; Vera Zvonareva bt Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-0, 6-1; Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-4; Jelena Jankovic bt Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-1.

Thailand Open: Quarterfinals: Gael Monfils bt Philipp Petzschner 7-6(6), 6-4; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2; Tomas Berdych bt Nicolas Mahut 7-6(6), 6-3; Novak Djokovic bt Robin Soderling 6-4, 7-5. Doubles (Quarterfinals): Lukas Dlouhy & Leander Paes bt Tomas Berdych & Simone Bolelli 6-1, 6-2. — Agencies