Cincinnati : Tommy Robredo shocked World No.1 Novak Djokovic at the Cincinnati Masters, but Roger Federer avoided an upset against Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Spain’s Robredo, seeded 16th in the US Open tune-up, on Thursday sent top-seeded Djokovic packing 7-6 (8/6), 7-5, the defeat coming a week after the world number one Serb was beaten in the third round at Toronto.
The Wimbledon champion now goes into the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year which starts on August 25, well short of matches and confidence.
Federer, a five-time Cincinnati champion, held off Monfils 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. He booked a quarter-final against Scot Andy Murray, who battled more than two hours against the huge serve of John Isner, finally dispatching the American 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/2).
Federer had a rare show of temper late in the match, arguing with the chair umpire over a decision not to call on electronic line-calling on a particular point. But Federer quickly recovered his poise, clinching the match with a service winner after breaking Monfils in the penultimate game.
“I’m just happy the way I’m playing right now,” Federer said. “It was much better than the last couple of matches.
“I was hitting good forehands, not making so many mistakes, returning better,” he added. “So there was a lot of positives out in the match. Sometimes frustration, but sometimes that’s what Gael does to you.”
Djokovic, who was married last month and is soon to become a father, said it wasn’t a question of the new elements in his life weighing on his tennis. “I just lost the match,” he said. “It was bad. Many, many things are not clicking these two weeks on hard courts. It’s unfortunate, but it’s more than obvious I’m not playing even close to what I’m supposed to play.
“I have to keep on working and trying to get better for the US Open. I just don’t feel comfortable. That’s it.” —AFP
