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MADRID, Oct 20: Unseeded Argentine David Nalbandian inflicted a shock 6-1, 6-2 defeat on world No 2 Rafael Nadal in the Madrid Masters on Friday to earn a semi-final showdown with young Serb Novak Djokovic.
Holder Roger Federer produced another polished performance to shake off Spanish wild card Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-4.
The world No 1 next plays unseeded German Nicolas Kiefer, who continued his resurgence after more than a year out with a wrist injury by defeating fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez 7-6, 6-2.
Chilean Gonzalez was beaten by Federer in last year’s final.
An out-of-sorts Nadal looked to be suffering the after-effects of Thursday night’s gruelling victory over Andy Murray as he surrendered his serve on five occasions, lost nine games in a row and made a host of unforced errors.
It was the Spaniard’s heaviest defeat since he lost to Julien Benneteau in Lyon in Oct 2004 when he also won only three games, and the second time in a row he has fallen in the quarters in Madrid.
For Nalbandian, runner-up here in 2004, the victory put him in the semis for the first time this year and came as a welcome boost at the end of a disappointing season in which he has dropped out of the top 10 to 25th in the world.
“Everything went right for me today,” the Argentine told reporters. “I took advantage of all Rafa’s errors and he never felt comfortable but I felt I played really well.”
Unlike Murray, who had five early break points against Nadal, Nalbandian took his chances and broke the Spaniard in the third game.
Nalbandian broke twice more to take the set 6-1 and reeled off nine games without reply to grab a 3-0 lead in the second.
Nadal, winner here in 2005, struggled to control his ground shots and Nalbandian stretched the Mallorcan across the court and kept the rallies going to tire out his opponent.
A frustrated Nadal slammed an easy forehand into the net as he surrendered his serve again in the second game and although he tried to pump himself up with the crowd’s support, he was unable to break the Argentine’s concentration.
Lopez put up a brave fight against Federer, weathering five break points in a marathon eighth game and also saving a set point, but there was nothing he could do to stop the Swiss seizing the opening set.
Federer then broke serve in the ninth game of the second as he claimed his 57th win of the year.
World No 3 Djokovic powered his way to a 7-6, 6-2 victory over unseeded Croat Mario Ancic.
The 20-year-old Serb became the first player to take a set off Ancic this week before twice breaking serve in the second.
“The second set was something else, it was really good and I’m starting to feel better and better,” said Djokovic.
Friday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Quarter-finals: Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) beat 5-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2; 1-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4; David Nalbandian (Argentina) beat 2-Rafael Nadal (Spain) 6-1, 6-2; 3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Mario Ancic (Croatia) 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.
HENIN MARCHES ON ZURICH: World No 1 Justine Henin brushed aside Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the Zurich Open on Friday to maintain her incredible run this year.
Henin has reached the semi-finals of all 13 tournaments she has participated in, winning eight trophies.
“The last time I wasn’t in a semi-final was in Miami in (April) 2006 so that’s a pretty long time,” the Belgian told reporters.
“But I’m not playing for records. I’m just loving my tennis.”
Henin’s chances of winning her ninth title of the season were boosted further on Friday by the retirement through injury of second-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova and French ninth seed Marion Bartoli.
Their withdrawals left the Belgian as the only seed still involved in the event.
“There was a bit of frustration in the first set because I couldn’t get a good rhythm,” said Henin after securing her 17th successive win on the tour.
“She was serving pretty slow so it was tough for me to come in and play aggressive. But in the second set it was like the machine just switched on.”
Kuznetsova and Bartoli became the latest casualties of a tournament that has seen four top players retire hurt.
World number two Kuznetsova pulled out of her meeting with Italy’s Francesca Schiavone with a shoulder injury while trailing 3-6, 3-3.
Bartoli then left the court in tears after abandoning her match against compatriot Tatiana Golovin, immediately after breaking to take a 5-4 lead with serve in the first set.
Organisers said the ninth seed had injured her left knee, apparently while overstretching on her forehand, and would see a doctor on Saturday.
Kuznetsova said her own injury would not jeopardise her place in next month’s season-ending WTA championships.
“It’s not that serious, I just need some time off because the muscle was getting very tired and I couldn’t lift my arm up,” Kuznetsova told reporters.“In the second set I could get it together but I was thinking, ‘What’s the point?’. If I had won the second set I wouldn’t have been able to finish the match.”
Henin next plays Czech world No 15 Nicole Vaidisova, who defeated Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4.
Schiavone and Golovin, the direct beneficiaries of Friday’s two retirements, meet in Saturday’s second semi-final.
Friday’s results:
Quarter-finals: Tatiana Golovin (France) beat 9-Marion Bartoli (France) 4-5 – Bartoli retired; 1-Justine Henin (Belgium) beat Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-4, 6-2; Francesca Schiavone (Italy) beat 2-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 6-3 3-3 – Kuznetsova retired; Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic) beat Alona Bondarenko (Ukraine) 6-1, 6-4.—Reuters
