Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010960341900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Nadal falls to Monfils in Doha quarterfinals

DOHA: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was eliminated from the Qatar Open on Thursday, losing to Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Nadal, who cruised through his first two matches at the season-opening event in Doha, was broken twice in the first set and once in the second, and finished the match with only 10 winners. Monfils had 35.

“He played better than me. That’s what happened. I had my chances but he was serving really well,” said Nadal.

Monfils, a 14th-ranked Frenchman who reached the final here in 2006 but is playing this year as a wild card, had eight aces to none for Nadal.

Monfils will next face Andy Roddick in the semifinals. The eighth-ranked American defeated unseeded Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3, 6-2.

Second-ranked Roger Federer advanced to the semifinals beating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-2, 7-6(6).

The Swiss star saved three set points in the tiebreaker after trailing 5-1 and 6-3, eventually reeling off five straight points to win.

The results:

At Doha: Qatar Open: Quarterfinals: Andy Roddick bt Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2; Gael Monfils bt Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4; Roger Federer bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 7-6(6).

At Brisbane (Brisbane International): Quarterfinals: Men: Fernando Verdasco bt Florent Serra 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Women: Victoria Azarenka bt Lucie Safarova 7-6(5), 6-4; Sara Errani bt Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-3; Amelie Mauresmo bt Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2; Marion Bartoli bt Tathiana Garbin 6-3, 6-3.

At Auckland: WTA Auckland Classic: Quarterfinals: Aravane Rezai bt Edina Gallovits 6-3, 6-2; Elena Dementieva bt Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-1.

Anne Keothavong bt Ayumi Morita 6-0, retd.; Elena Vesnina bt Caroline Wozniaki 6-3, 0-6, 6-3. — Agencies