MADRID, 17 October 2003 — Outsider Nicolas Massu turned the formbook on its head when brushing aside world No. 2 Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to race into the quarterfinals of the 2.45-million-euro Madrid Masters Series here yesterday.
The shell-shocked US Open champion found himself pondering his first defeat on the ATP since losing to Brit Tim Henman in the semifinals at Washington more than two months ago.
Roddick’s summer run of form earned him titles in Indianapolis and the last two Masters Series on back-to-back weeks in Montreal and Cincinnati.
The 22-year-old then steamrolled the field to win the US Open over Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero.
But a first-time meeting with world No. 21 Massu proved to be an eye-opener for Roddick, struggling along with Swiss Roger Federer to steal the world No. 1 ranking from Ferrero, the top seed here.
Federer, the Wimbledon winner, did his part to keep pace, dispatching American Mardy Fish 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Other seeded winners at the Rockodromo included French number six Sebastien Grosjean, who eliminated American Vince Spadea 6-3, 6-2. Thai seventh seed Paradorn Srichaphan whipped another American Jan-Michael Gambill, 7-5, 6-4.
The 15th-seeded Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui handed the Americans a fifth loss from five matches, beating Robby Ginepri 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Clijsters Eases Through
to Swisscom Quarters
In Zurich, world No. 1 Kim Clijsters progressed to the quarterfinals of the Swisscom Challenge yesterday with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory over Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik.
Clijsters took her tournament title tally this year to seven with victory in the Filderstadt Grand Prix in Germany last week and she is on course for second a consecutive final showdown with compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Srebotnik did little to stand in her way and, despite her plucky effort, collapsed to the all-round strength of the Belgian in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the indoor Schluefweg stadium.
Clijsters, who had not played in four days after being given a bye in the opening round, started the stronger by securing a double break and comfortably held her serve to move into a 3-0 lead in the opening set.
Srebotnik, playing with strapping on her left thigh, won her first game of the match when Clijsters hit the ball wide.
She refused to roll over and took three points from Clijsters when 5-2 down, but squandered three break points and lost the set.
The second set started like the first, with Clijsters breaking twice and holding easily to move into a 4-0 lead.
Srebotnik managed to prevent a whitewash by winning two games but the match was all over in 57 minutes when the Slovenian hit the ball long.
Clijsters will next meet another Slovenian, the unseeded Tina Pisnik, who beat Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, the sixth seed and world No. 11, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 yesterday.
