HomeTennis NewsHeadlines
Federer, Nadal reach Qatar quarterfinals1/6/2010 12:37:00 PM
DOHA, Qatar (AP) -Top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal each won in straight sets Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals at the Qatar Open.

Federer beat Evgeny Korolev of Russia 6-2, 6-4, and Nadal defeated Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 6-2.

Federer broke three times in the first set and once in the second. The Swiss star, who won the Qatar Open in 2005 and ‘06, will play either Andreas Seppi of Italy or Ernests Gulbis of Latvia on Thursday.

``I know how he plays, so I had the match under control,’’ Federer said. ``He plays a lot of balls on the forehand, so I was able to stay ahead in the match. There were long rallies in the second set, but I am pleased to have reached the quarterfinals.’‘

Federer earned his 17th win in Doha, having lost only two matches in five appearances at the tournament.

Nadal improved to 6-0 against Starace, who has a 2-16 record against top-10 opponents.

``I am happy with my form,’’ Nadal said. ``This was confirmation that I am playing well. Right now, I am just concentrating on winning each game I play.’‘

The Spaniard broke Starace twice in each set, returning well from the baseline and taking advantage of Starace twice hitting groundstrokes into the net.

Nadal will play Steve Darcis of Belgium, who beat Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco 6-3, 6-1.

Third-seeded Nikolay Davydenko topped Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland 6-3, 6-4, while Victor Troicki of Serbia defeated Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-2, 6-2.

``I am surprised to have won the match in two sets,’’ Davydenko said. ``I practiced for only two weeks and then I fell sick. I was on medicine before coming here, so I am still struggling with my shots.’‘

Good luck, Ernest!

peter B.,

Are you just a tennis observer from the side lines or an active participant ?

Visu labu,

Former world number 38, Gulbis, had Federer on the rocks at the turn of the third set.  But the world number one pounced at the end of the decider to prevail 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in Qatar.

Maybe next time…........................

ps. i do play tennis with my 8 year old tomboy, ocassionally….......................

I wonder if Edgars Gulbis has met Natalija Gulbis? I hear she’s a looker. If they were to marry, she should definitely hyphenate her name.

says Natalie:
Natalie Gulbis isn’t currently seeing anyone, but she has some firm ideas about what she’s looking for in a man. She’s attracted to anyone who is passionate about what he does. It needn’t be golf, but it would help, as she has more in common with athletes. “If he has a long drive and he’s good looking,” admits Natalie Gulbis, “that would turn me on.”

Long drive…...hmmmmmm. Got to be handy with that No. 1 wood.

Not that I’m particularly interested in this sort of drivel, *ahem!*..., but last year Nathalie was dating Rothlisberger (sp?), QB of the Steelers.

Pierre the Snoop