MONTREAL: World number one Novak Djokovic, second seed Andy Murray and three-time champion Rafa Nadal were all cheered into the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup on Thursday while controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios exited to boos and a hefty fine.

Djokovic, also a three time winner on the Canadian hardcourts, needed only 54 minutes to complete a 6-2, 6-1 demolition of American Jack Sock while Murray was equally economic in disposing of Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.

Nadal, finding his hardcourt footing coming off a clay court win in Hamburg, produced a snappy 6-3, 6-3 victory over Russian qualifier Mikhail Youzhny as Japanese fourth seed Kei Nishikori rolled to a 6-4, 6-4 win over 13th seed David Goffin.

While there were plenty of cheers in be heard across the Montreal tennis complex on Thursday few were for Kyrgios who entered his match to boos and exited the same way after falling 7-5, 6-3 to big-hitting American John Isner.

Montreal: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory over Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny at the Rogers Cup.—AP

The Australian had insulted Swiss opponent Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday during their second round encounter.

Prior to the match the ATP had fined Kyrgios $10,000, the maximum penalty available, for remarks directed at Wawrinka about his girlfriend picked up by a courtside microphone.

With Isner serving for the match there were more boos for Kyrgios who lost his cool again engaging in a heated exchange with a spectator yelling “You’re so tough man, so tough”.

It was all calm on centre court where Djokovic got off to a sluggish start but after breaking to go up 3-2 the 28-year-old Serb was in complete control with the Sock managing just a single break chance, which he was unable to convert.

“At the beginning of the match I think we were both a bit rusty,” said Djokovic.

“But I just managed to make the crucial break. That was the turning point, going up 3-2 in the first set. Then I was in control.”

Djokovic continues to dominate at the ATP Tour’s biggest events, running his Masters 1000 winning streak to 28 matches.

Coming off an opening match loss in Washington last week, Murray has also finding his footing on the Canadian hardcourts advancing to the final eight in singles but crashed out later in the doubles losing to his brother Jamie.

The doubles match won by Jamie Murray and Australian John Peers 6-4 7-6(9) marked the first time the two Murray’s played against each other as professionals.

“It’s not ideal, not a situation I want to be in all of the time,” Andy told reporters.

“Doubles is Jamie’s career. I support him every single week.”

Results:

Third round: Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Jack Sock (USA) 6-2, 6-1; Ernests Gulbis (LAT) bt Donald Young (USA) 6-4, 6-4; Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 4-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4; John Isner (USA x16) bt Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 7-5, 6-3; Andy Murray (GBR x2) bt Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-3, 6-2; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x10) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 7-6 (9/7), 6-3; Rafael Nadal (ESP x7) bt Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)6-3, 6-3; Kei Nishikori (JPN x4) bt David Goffin (BEL x13) 6-4, 6-4.

SERENA CONTINUES DOMINANCE

TORONTO: World number one Serena Williams continued her dominance over Germany’s Andrea Petkovic with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the third round of the WTA Rogers Cup on Thursday.

Top seed Williams hammered 28 winners and blasted nine aces to beat the 16th seeded Petkovic for the fifth straight time.

“I think I served better than in my first match. It was a big difference,” Serena said.

“I still think I have a tremendous amount of improvement to do off the ground and everywhere else.”

Serena, who never faced a break point and held all nine of her service games in the 62-minute match on center court, barely broke a sweat Thursday.

The 33-year-old American advances to the quarter-finals where she will face Roberta Vinci who snapped the win streak of rising star Daria Gavrilova with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

Serena has beaten Vinci in all three of their previous meetings, losing just 14 games in total.

Second seed Simona Halep smashed an ace on match point to defeat red-hot Angelique Kerber 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and reach the quarter-finals.

Kerber had won seven in a row and was coming off her fourth title of 2015 after winning last week’s Stanford tournament.

Halep served well, especially in the third set where she rallied from a 3-2 deficit.

Halep held serve to make it three-all and after the two traded breaks to get to four-all she roared home by winning the final two games at love to oust the number 13-seeded Kerber.

“I think I played better than yesterday,” Halep said.

“I feel more confident now. My serve didn’t work very well, but I returned well. So I’m really happy that I could win this match. I was fighting until the end.”

She ripped an ace out wide to close out the match, which lasted two hours and 23 minutes.

“I knew I had to win it, because at the end I was so tired I couldn’t move anymore,” Halep said.

Awaiting Halep is defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska, who rallied from 4-2 down in the third set to edge Alize Cornet 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

In the late match, fifth seeded Ana Ivanovic cruised past qualifier Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-3.

Results:

Third round: Roberta Vinci (ITA) bt Daria Gavrilova (RUS) 6-4, 6-3; Belinda Bencic (SUI) bt Sabine Lisicki (GER) 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7/3); Lesya Tsurenko (UKR) bt Carina Witthoeft (GER) 6-3, 6-4; Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x6) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; Simona Halep (ROM x2) bt Angelique Kerber (GER x13) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.—Agencies

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2015

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