The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Federer in semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 02, 2004

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Sport - Tennis

Federer in semifinals

BANGKOK, OCT. 1. Top-ranked Roger Federer secured a Thailand Open semifinal berth with a 7-6(3), 6-4 win over a determined Robin Soderling of Sweden here on Friday.

Hunting for his 10th title of the season, Federer was two points away from losing the first set before summoning his experience to overcome the 20-year-old Soderling at Impact Arena.

Eighth-seeded Soderling maintained the pressure on Federer in the second set, but made too many unforced errors against the world's No. 1-ranked player.

Federer broke for a 3-2 lead in the second, which he extended to 5-4. After serving to set up match point, the Swiss blasted his 14th ace of the match to end it.

"It was satisfying to win the first set because he was serving for the set at 5-4, but I got back to win," Federer said. "In the second set I was playing well."

Novak, Canas advance

At Shanghai, Jiri Novak rolled past American Jan-Michael Gambill 6-3, 6-3 to set up a Shanghai Open semifinals showdown with third-seeded Guillermo Canas. Canas booked his semifinal spot with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Brazilian Ricardo Mello.

Novak and Canas are tied 1-1 in their previous matchups, with Canas winning, 6-4, 6-0 in their last meeting at the 2002 Stuttgart semifinals.

The results: At Bangkok (Thailand Open): Quarterfinals: Roger Federer bt Robin Soderling 7-6(3), 6-4; Andy Roddick bt Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-4; Paradorn Srichaphan bt Dennis van Scheppingen 6-2, 7-5. Second round: Paradorn Srichaphan bt Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-0, 7-6(4); Dennis Van Scheppingen bt Taylor Dent 6-0, 6-4.

At Shanghai (Shanghai Open): Second round: Jiri Novak bt Melle Van Gemerden 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1; Guillermo Canas bt Kristian Pless 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

At Palermo (Campionati de Sicilia): Second round: Nicolas Massu bt Potito Starace 4-1, retd.; Filippo Volandri bt Galo Blanco 6-2, 6-1; Tomas Berdych bt Jose Acasuso 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Andreas Seppi bt Kristof Vliegen 6-4, 3-6, 4-1 retd.

At Hasselt (Gaz de France): Second round: Elena Dementieva bt Michaela Pastikova 6-4, 6-2; Maria Elena Camerin bt Karolina Sprem 6-4, 6-4; Francesca Schiavone bt Nuria Llagostera 6-1, 6-0; Magdalena Maleeva bt Els Callens 6-0, 6-1.

At Seoul (Korea Open): Quarterfinals: Maria Sharapova bt Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-1; Abigail Spears bt Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-2; Anne Kremer bt Sanda Mamic 2-6, 6-4, 6-1; Marta Domachowska bt Silvija Talaja 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-0.

At Guangzhou (Guangzhou International Open): Quarterfinals: Li Na bt Kristina Brandi 6-4, 6-0; Martina Sucha bt Tamarine Tanasugarn 7-6(7), 7-5; Barbora Strycova bt Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-1; Li Ting bt Peng Shaui 6-2, 6-2. — AP

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