The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Djokovic gets past Federer; meets Nadal

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Djokovic gets past Federer; meets Nadal

ROME: Holder Novak Djokovic took advantage of Roger Federer’s slump after a rain break to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Saturday to set up a Rome Masters final against World No.1 Rafael Nadal.

Nadal, a triple champion here, powered past Chilean 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-3.

“He’s going to be the favourite to win again,” the third-ranked Djokovic told reporters. “But I have my chances especially after the great performance in Monte Carlo (last month).

“I learned I have to play every point against him,” added the Serb who took Nadal to three sets in the Monte Carlo Masters final.

“That’s what I’m going to try to do tomorrow. Physically prepare to be ready to play long rallies and wait for the chances.”

Momentum shift

Second seed Federer, yet to win a title this year, looked to be cruising when leading 6-4, 2-1 but rain then stopped play for about an hour.

He had chances to go 3-0 and 4-1 up either side of the rain break before wild shots helped Djokovic force a third set.

The third seed then charged back from a break down in the decider.

“I feel this is not a match I should have given away because (I was a) break up in the second, break up in the third and I usually don’t give away opportunities like this,” said Federer.

“I was playing him well, serving well when I had to and putting him under pressure. The rain delay came at a perfect moment for him but he might have come back anyway and beat me.”

Paes-Dlouhy, Bhupathi-Knowles ousted

The fourth-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi and his Bahamian partner Mark Knowles suffered a 4-6, 7-6(6), 8-10 semifinal defeat against second seeds Daniel Nestor and Ninad Zimonjic in one hour and 51 minutes.

Leander Paes and Czech Lukas Dlouhy, seeded third, lost their quarterfinal match 5-7, 3-6 to fifth seeds Bruno Soares of Brazil and Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett in one hour 15 minutes.

The results: At Rome (Rome Masters): Semifinals: Rafael Nadal bt Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-3; Novak Djokovic bt Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Doubles: Semifinals: Daniel Nestor & Ninad Zimonjic bt Mahesh Bhupathi & Mark Knowles 6-4, 6-7(6), 10-8. Quarterfinals: Bruno Soares & Kevin Ullyett bt Leander Paes & Lukas Dlouhy 7-5, 6-3.

At Stuttgart (Porsche Grand Prix): Semifinals: Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-2.

At Casablanca (Princess Lalla Meryem Grand Prix): Final: Anabel Medina Garrigues bt Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-1. — Agencies

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