MMMM 2007 : 2007


FEDERER FIGHTS THROUGH TO ADVANCE PAST LOPEZ IN MADRID

Top-seeded holder Roger Federer left Spain without
a player in the Madrid Masters at the semi-final stage as he defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 on Friday.

Madrid, october 18th The Swiss had to fight through a duel with big-serving Latin lefty Lopez, who has now lost all six of his meetings with the Swiss.

It took one hour, 36 minutes for Federer to prevail for his 57th win over the season as he chases a seventh 2007 trophy.

He will next play against Nicolas Kiefer after the unseeded German upset Chilean fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

Lopez held off the top seed, allowing Federer just one break in 11 opportunities and contributing 11 aces.

Lopez went out just a few hours after home hero Rafael Nadal was embarrassed by David Nalbandian in a first-time meeting. The South American stunned the sluggish former 6-1, 6-2 to produce his best showing of a poor season.

Nalbandian, Masters Cup champion two years ago, had done little in 2007, a quarter-final at Barcelona the best he could offer.

But that all changed as he hammered Nadal in their first career meeting.

"Everything worked for me and nothing worked for Rafa," said the winner. "I played very well.

"I felt comfortable and I decided to attack the second service to put him under pressure."

Federer said he found it hard to get an edge on Lopez. "I couldn't break early on, I was starting to get a bit concerned.

"I was playing well from the baseline, but would have been nice to break. He served well and only game me one or two chances.

"He got frustrated midway through the second and gave me the free points I needed to finally break. Otherwise, it would have gone to another tiebreaker."

Nadal came into the Nalbandian match carrying the knee tendinitis which has affected both joints for several months.

This week was the first event for the three-time French Open winner since a fourth-round exit seven weeks ago at the US Open.

But the favourite said it was his own errors and not his knees which let him down. "It's not possible to play any worse than I did today." he joked. "I didn't have any clear tactics in my head."

"After this, I'll try to do all that I can to end this season on a better note. I lost so quickly today that it didn't have a chance to hurt my confidence."

Nadal had little to offer in the 71-minute-trouncing as he lost serve five times and managed a mere five winners against 29 unforced errors.

Nalbandian will Saturday face off against third seed Novak
Djokovic, who won his 10th match in a row despite an ankle problems to defeat Mario Ancic 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

The Serb world number three came to Spain after winning the Vienna title last weekend and also contributing to his nation's Davis Cup success since losing the US Open final six weeks ago to Federer.

"Nadal may have been tired from last night match (when he beat Andy Murray) and he can't always play well," said Djokovic. "It's disappointing in front of his people, but what can he do?

"I've been playing great tennis and I have an indoor win last week in Vienna."

Djokovic has been the breakthrough story of the season, beating Federer for the Montreal Masters trophy in August after winning Miami four months earlier.

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