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Nadal downs Davydenko as Federer fights back
World number three Roger Federer had to use all his guile and experience to battle back from a set down to see off fast-rising Canadian Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the Madrid Open second round on Wednesday.
World number three Roger Federer had to use all his guile and experience to battle back from a set down to see off fast-rising Canadian Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in the Madrid Open second round on Wednesday.
The Swiss maestro, after an opening-round bye at the Masters Series claycourt event, was playing his first match since the end of March and only just edged out the big-serving 21-year-old, who thumped 21 aces on the Manolo Santana showcourt.
Rafa Nadal made much smoother progress into the last 16, dispatching former world number three Nikolay Davy-denko 6-2, 6-2 before joining widespread criticism of the unfamiliar blue courts, a controversial innovation at this year’s tournament.
“The court is not one that makes you feel comfortable,” said Nadal who won back-to-back clay titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona before heading to Madrid.
“The court is difficult, it’s slippery and it makes supporting movements and getting back to defend very tough,” said the world No 2.
Nadal next faces 15th-seeded compatriot Fernando Verdasco for a place in Friday’s quarters.
Hesh-Bops make quarters cut
Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals after defeating Santiago Gonzalez and Christopher Kas.
The seventh seeds defeated the Mexican-German combine 6-1, 7-6 (2) in the pre-quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The Indians next face either the American Bryan brothers or the Pakistan-Dutch duo of Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer, who were scheduled to meet later in the day.
