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CINCINNATI, Aug 16: Andy Roddick continued his charge towards back-to-back Masters Series titles by sweeping aside Argentine Mariano Zabaleta 6-1 6-2 on Friday to reach the Cincinnati semifinals.
The American’s task for the weekend was also made easier when sixth seed and in-form Guillermo Coria fell 6-2 7-5 to the unseeded Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Roddick captured his first Masters Series crown in Montreal last week, and his latest command performance on a rain-interrupted day on Friday represented his 28th win in 30 matches since losing in the first round of the French Open in May.
Thunderstorms delayed Roddick’s appearance on centre court but he did not let any uncertainty creep into his game.
Heavy serves and groundstrokes never allowed Zabaleta to settle and the sheer variety of his attack — a mix of net rushes, chip and charges and backcourt patience — was too much for the Argentine.
Roddick broke twice in both sets, the highlight a blistering return of serve at 4-2 in the second which was through Zabaleta before he had finished his service motion.
The 20-year-old meets Mirnyi in the semi-finals on Saturday after the ‘Beast of Belarus’ pummelled Coria into submission.
The Argentine is one of the best defensive players in the game but Mirnyi set his stall out at the net and Coria, who had won 18 of his last 19 matches, was at a loss to combat it.
Mirnyi also refused to allow two rain delays — the second lasting two hours 23 minutes — to disrupt his rhythm.
Mirnyi could move into the world’s top 20 for the first time in his career when the new rankings are announced next week.
Later on Friday, Americans Robby Ginepri and Mardy Fish will bid to make the semi-finals when they face Germany’s Rainer Schuettler and David Nalbandian of Argentina respectively.
Results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Quarterfinals: Mardy Fish (U.S) beat David Nalbandian (Argentina) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3; 8-Rainer Schuettler (Germany) beat Robby Ginepri (U.S.) 6-2 6-3; 7-Andy Roddick (U.S) beat Mariano Zabaleta (Argentina) 6-1 6-2; Max Mirnyi (Belarus) beat 6-Guillermo Coria (Argentina) 6-2 7-5.
TORONTO: Second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne turned the lights out on Elena Bovina’s challenge, beating the Russian 6-2 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the $1.3 million Canadian Open on Friday.
The Belgian now meets ninth-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, who overcame defending champion Amelie Mauresmo of France 3-6 6-4 6-2.
The tournament has been marred by the massive power failure which hit the eastern seaboard area of Canada and the north east of the U.S.
Henin-Hardenne’s win attracted an estimated crowd of 5,000 in the 10,000-seat stadium at the National Tennis Centre after government officials told people to stay at home unless they had essential travel.
She easily dispatched 12th seed Bovina, 20, with a dominant serve in the sweltering heat on Centre Court after rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the second set.
Henin-Hardenne had no power or water available at her hotel and said she did not sleep well on Thursday. But her strong performance this week is important to her, and not only because of the U.S. Open later this month.
Dementieva rallied after losing the first set 6-3 to win a gruelling battle against third seed Mauresmo, who needed an injury timeout for a back strain.
The Frenchwoman appeared to play pain-free for the rest of the contest but Dementieva had more energy and finally prevailed in a match that took more than two hours to complete.
Paola Suarez of Argentina and Russian Lina Krasnoroutskaya, both unseeded, will meet in the other semi-final on Saturday.
Suarez upset 10th seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia 2-6 6-2 6-4 while Krasnoroutskaya defeated Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Krasnoroutskaya knocked out world number one Kim Clijsters earlier in the tournament.
Results:
Quarterfinals: 2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) beat 12-Elena Bovina (Russia) 6-2 6-4; 9-Elena Dementieva (Russia) beat 3-Amelie Mauresmo (France) 3-6 6-4 6-2; Paola Suarez (Argentina) beat 10-Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 2-6 6-2 6-4; Lina Krasnoroutskaya (Russia) beat Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) 3-6 6-3 6-4.—Reuters
