MADRID: Japan’s world No. 14 Kei Nishikori dumped defending champion Roger Federer out of the Madrid Masters at the third round stage yesterday as he beat the 17-time Grand Slam champion 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
Federer, who returned to the tour in the Spanish capital after a two-month layoff, was broken in the fifth game of the first set as Nishikori went onto seal it comfortably 6-4.
The Swiss seemed to have found his rhythm in the second as a double break saw him take the set 6-1, but Nishikori dominated the third set as he broke to go 2-1 in front and then again in the final game to move into the quarterfinals.
Nishikori will face Spain’s Pablo Andujar for a place in the semifinals.
The Japanese hadn’t been beyond the last-16 of any tournament since winning in Memphis back in February, but he showed no sign of nerves throughout against the three-time champion in Madrid.
“I’m disappointed with my match. Today Nishikori played better and the best man won,” said Federer.
Earlier, Rafael Nadal edged closer to a possible Madrid Masters semifinal showdown against old rival Roger Federer yesterday by easing past Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny and into the last eight.
World No. 5 Rafael Nadal saw off Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 and will next face either Tommy Haas of Germany or Spanish compatriot David Ferrer.
In the women’s tournament, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, the top two seeds, also cruised into the quarterfinals.
Sixth seed Tomas Berdych also progressed into the quarterfinals as he won the battle of the big servers against Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.
On the women’s side, world No.1 Serena Williams eased into the last eight as she dismantled 13th seed Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-1 in just an hour and four minutes.
Williams didn’t even face a break point during the match as she steamrollered the Russian, and she believes taking some pace off her serve to get a higher percentage of first serves into court helped her relax and play more fluently than in her earlier rounds.
World No.2 Maria Sharapova, who has yet to drop a set, continued her stroll into the quarterfinals as she overcame Sabine Lisicki 6-2, 7-5.
The Russian, who could overtake Williams at the top of the rankings should she win the title, broke the German’s serve four times to prevail in a disjointed opening set.
Serve was more dominant in the second set with both players exchanging just the one break early on before Sharapova secured a crucial second break at 5-5 and served it out to take her place in the last eight.
And the reigning French Open champion said she feels more comfortable than she ever has on the clay.
Nishikori stuns Federer in Madrid
