BEIJING: Rafael Nadal crashed out of the China Open here on Friday, tiring at the end of a gruelling three-set quarter-final against qualifier Martin Klizan, while reigning women’s champion Serena Williams withdrew injured.

In only his third outing since returning from three months on the sidelines, 14-time Grand Slam winner Nadal managed just two points in the last four games of a match that he lost 6-7 (7-9) 6-4, 6-3.

The world number three won the first set at the tie break, and was 4-3 ahead in the second before Slovakia’s Klizan fought back and forced a decider.

The second seed then appeared to be edging through to the semi-finals after breaking serve in the third set to make it 3-2 in his favour.

But Klizan, ranked 56th by the ATP, then tore into Nadal, taking nine consecutive points in quick succession and the final four games as he closed in on victory.

Before Beijing, Nadal had not played competitively since he was dumped out at Wimbledon by 19-year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios.

He was then struck down in training by a right wrist injury which forced him to miss the US Open.

The nine-time French Open champion looked more composed during the previous two rounds in the Chinese capital, which he won in straight sets.

But the quarter-final loss was a grim awakening that it may be a while until he is back to his world-beating best.

Klizan will meet third seed Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals, after the world number six Czech beat American John Isner, his doubles partner, 6-1, 6-4.

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic powered through to the last four as he overcame fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4.

Djokovic will now face Briton Andy Murray in the semi-finals after the sixth seed won his quarter-final against Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-4.

In the women’s competition, world number one Serena withdrew from the tournament with a left knee injury.

The reigning champion was due to play Australian Samantha Stosur after winning her third-round match on Thursday evening with a bandaged knee.

Stosur will now go straight into the semi-finals where she will play Petra Kvitova.

Third seed Kvitova beat Italian Roberta Vinci 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 to book her place in the last four. Fourth seed Russian Maria Sharapova won her quarter-final against compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0, 6-4.

NISHIKORI, RAONIC MAKE SEMIS

TOKYO: Crowd favourite Kei Nishikori and two-time finalist Milos Raonic both hammered out straight-sets wins to reach the Japan Open semi-finals here on Friday.

Nishikori claimed his seventh straight victory with his 6-4, 6-2 defeat of France’s Jeremy Chardy.

Canadian third seed Raonic overcame a slow start and needed to win an hour-long first set before beating Uzbek Denis Istomin 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.

Nishikori now plays a semi-final against German Benjamin Becker, who defeated Jack Sock 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Raonic takes on Gilles Simon in the semis after the French player powered into his first ATP semi-final since the spring with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 defeat of American Steve Johnson.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2014