MADRID, 22 October 2004 — David Nalbandian dominated Paradorn Srichaphan 6-3, 6-1 in the third round of the 2.425-million-euro Madrid Masters here yesterday.
The fourth seed crushed the hopes of Asia’s best player, leaving Paradorn still seven victories short of the record-setting 50 in a season he’s aiming to achieve.
With an exit in Madrid and a failure to duplicate his quarterfinal showings from the past two seasons, the Bangkok 16th seed has only next week in Basel and the concluding Masters Series at Paris Bercy in which to fulfill his dream.
Second seed Andre Agassi finished up with back-to-back aces to complete a 6-1, 6-3 third-round rout of outgunned Vince Spadea.
Agassi, who won the inaugural edition when the event moved to Madrid in 2002, needed just 58 minute to stamp his authority on a man who beat him when they last met five years ago.
The 34-year-old master showman from Las Vegas staved off six breaks points but dominated otherwise against Spadea, aged 30 and ranked 23rd.
Agassi struck 19 winners and a dozen unforced errors as he moved into a quarterfinal against the last of the Spaniards, Tommy Robredo.
Britain’s top seed Tim Henman fears the onset of an energy crisis after crashing out with little left in the tank in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 loss to Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic.
Henman admitted that he feels as weak as he did at Roland Garros where he somehow battled through a virus to reach an unprecedented semifinal on clay.
The usually calm gentleman of the court blamed frustration with his physical form for an uncharacteristic late-match racket-toss as he went down to defeat in just under two hours. The Briton was given the top seeding this week due to the absence of the world’s first four top ranked players — Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Guillermo Coria and Lleyton Hewitt.
The bitter loss was the third in four meetings for Henman against Ljubicic, who improved to 33-21 on the season.
“From the waist up, I feel fine, but I don’t have any energy. And playing indoors in these type of conditions is not that physically demanding.
Swedish outsider, Joachim Johansson, the seventh-seeded US Open semifinalist, moved into the last eight over Anthony Dupuis 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). The 22-year-old made his winning point with 21 aces and next faces Ljubicic.
Eighth seed Tommy Robredo maintained Spanish honor as the last home hope standing, advanced over compatriot Fernando Verdasco 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
American Taylor Dent reached his second quarterfinal in three weeks with a defeat of German Tommy Haas 7-6 (7 3), 6-2.
Second seed Andre Agassi was to face fellow American Vince Spadea while number three Marat Safin was taking on Stefan Koubek.
Venus Survives to Set Up Sharapova Clash
In Zurich, Venus Williams came through a stiff test against Serbian schoolgirl Ana Ivanovic yesterday to book her place in the Zurich Challenge quarterfinals.
The American former world No. 1 eventually defeated the 16-year-old 7-6, 7-6 but will have to raise her game against in-form Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova in the next round.
Williams broke early in the first set and seemed on course for a routine victory but world No. 156 Ivanovic thrilled the Swiss crowd by storming back to force a tiebreak.
Ivanovic had five set points before Williams clinched the tiebreak 13-11.
The young Serb, who has won all five of the ITF tournaments in which she has competed this season, maintained her form in the second set to cause the four-times grand slam champion just as much trouble.
After trading service breaks Ivanovic again found herself with three set points, wasting one golden opportunity when she netted an attempted winner with the court at her mercy. Williams finally sealed victory in one hour 48 minutes.
Earlier third seed Elena Dementieva came through a scrappy battle with Russian Fed Cup teammate Elena Bovina 7-5, 3-6, 6-0.
Both players dropped serve five times in the opening two sets before Dementieva finally found her rhythm to romp past Bovina in the deciding set.
The French and US Open runner-up has not enjoyed the best of luck against Russian players this year, losing to Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova in both grand slam finals. She has also been beaten by Russians in three of her last five tournaments and another showdown could be on the cards here where she may face Sharapova.
