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Friday, March 2, 2007

Federer Loses on way to Dubai Open Semis

Confused?
Federer has dropped sets in two matches in a difference of three days. Isn't it hard to believe ?
Yesterday he dropped a set for the second time in three matches but overcame Serbian teenager Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semifinals at the Dubai Open. Two days back he also dropped as set to Denmark's Kristian Pless in his first-round match on Monday

He advanced to the semifinals along with Germany's Tommy Haas and Robin Soderling of Sweden. Federer will meet Haas in the semis and has beaten the ninth-ranked German in seven of their nine meetings.

Federer said after the match
“The ball was out, but it’s hard to accept, match point,” Federer said. “It was a bit of a pity it went three and it had a bitter taste at the end with the netcord and Hawkeye.

“Maybe I should have closed it out earlier and not got to that position. I should have closed it out at 6-4 (in the tiebreak). I can only blame myself.”

Nadal was outsded from the tournament by Russian Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 6-3. First set end was a controvertial one with arguments on whether ball has landed on the line or outside. Nadal thought the ball was out but Youzhny challenged the call and Hawkeye showed the ball to be just skimming the line. Both Nadal and the umpire believed the ball was out, but officials have to accept Hawkeye’s ruling.

“The mark of the ball was still on court and it was outside but in the challenge it was in, so that’s unbelievable,” said Nadal. “I say to him (the umpire), ‘look, the ball is out’, and he say ‘I know’.”
Youzhny also agreed the ball to be out

“It looked like it was out,” he said. “I saw the mark, but I just took the challenge because it was a very important point. When it showed it was good I was a little bit shocked. But anyway, you can have the same mistakes from linesmen or the chair umpire.”
Now Federer will meet Hass and Soderling will challenge Youzhny. Winner of the tournament will get a whooping $300,000 and 300ATP points. Federer will look to extend his winning streak to 40 matches.

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2 comments:

Raja said...

Johm Mcneroe once said that the best time to defeat federer is at the start of the tourney.....and as soon as he gains moemntum ,it becomes extremely difficult to defeat him...how many we have seen that from quraters onward he just murders the oppoennets....nadal on hard court is not that great threat as he is on clay....

desh said...

balls to the young lad :)