PERTH, Australia, 6 January 2005 — Red-hot favorites Russia bowed out of contention in the mixed teams Hopman Cup tennis tournament here yesterday as big-hitting star Marat Safin again failed to fire in their second straight loss.
The shock 2-1 defeat of the Russians, beaten by both unseeded Germany in their opening tie and now Argentina, was an ominous sign for Safin as he prepares for the Australian Open starting in Melbourne on Jan. 17.
The world number four has lost both of his singles rubbers in the tournament and along with team-mate Anastasia Myskina, the pair have never won a mixed doubles rubber at the event in five attempts.
Safin appeared sluggish as he succumbed to the lightning pace of Argentina’s world number seven Guillermo Coria 7-6 (7 4), 6-1, offering little more than token resistance in the second set. He and Myskina then went down 6-2, 6-0 in the deciding mixed doubles after Myskina had earlier put them in the box-seat with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Gisela Dulko in just 56 minutes.
Federer Downs Rusedski to
Reach Last Eight in Doha
In Doha, world No. 1 Roger Federer raced into the quarter-finals of $1 million Qatar Open yesterday, downing Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-4 in the second round. Apart from his big first serve, Rusedski failed to mount any real challenge and Federer cruised through in less than an hour.
The Briton fired three aces in the first set, but Federer broke him as early as the second game and Rusedski had no answer to some blistering ground strokes and fluent backhands. The Swiss said: “It was a good day out there for me. But I know I can play better that I did today.
“The important thing is that I didn’t lose my serve. I took the opportunities that came my way and I felt quite comfortable on this surface.”
Federer now plays another left-hander,Felciano Lopez of Spain, who beat Italy’s Uros Vico 6-2, 7-6.
The best match of the day was an all-French affair between the experienced Fabrice Santoro and rising force Gael Monfils, who beat second seed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina on Tuesday.
Santoro, the 2000 champion here, saved a match point before edging past Monfils 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in two hours 39 minutes. Monfils needed medical attention after tumbling and injuring his right thigh towards the end of the match and Santoro served out for victory.
Swedes Double Up for Quarterfinal
Spots in Adelaide
In Adelaide, second seed Joachim Johansson joined fellow Swede Thomas Enqvist in the quarterfinals of the $ 419,000 Next Generation Hardcourts with a hard-fought win over Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) last night. Johansson is on course for a finals showdown with his good friend Hewitt, assuming the Aussie top seed does his part today as he faces Argentine Agustin Calleri.
Enqvist dredged up memories of past success, mowing down German seventh seed Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-3 to move ahead.
Third seed Nicolas Kiefer came good for Germany, continuing a comeback after missing several months with a wrist injury as he took a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Cyril Sauliner of France.
Belgian little man Belgium’s Olivier Rochus knocked out Czech sixth seed Radek Stepanek 6-0, 6-3 on a day when rain delayed the start of play.
Tearful Bartoli Overcomes Pain
Barrier in Auckland
In Wellington, France’s fifth seed Marion Bartoli overcame an injury which reduced her to tears to beat American Jill Craybas 2-6 6-0 6-1 in the second round of the Auckland WTA Classic yesterday. Bartoli wept during the match because of a shoulder injury and described her chances of being fit to play Jelena Jankovic in the next round as “50-50”.
Top seed Amy Frazier of the US beat the Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova 6-3 6-1 and Serbia’s second seed Jankovic overpowered Spain’s Nuria Llagostera Vives 7-5 6-2.
Japan’s fourth seed Shinobu Asagoe went through after Shenay Perry of the US retired. Asagoe had won the first set 6-1.
