Nadal and Federer crash out at Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio: Novak Djokovic survived a scare before easing through to the semis, but Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s US Open preparations hit a snag at the ATP Cincinnati Masters.

World No 1 Djokovic on Friday outlasted Frenchman Gael Monfils to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a two and a half hour evening match. “It was a very physical match, but I hung in there and it was a good win,” Djokovic said. “It was an intense match, a lot of tension.”


But second seeded Spaniard Nadal and Swiss maestro Federer suffered surprising exits on the Cincinnati hardcourts in the final event before the start of the US Open in 10 days.


World number two Nadal was defeated by American seventh seed Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-4.


And Federer then crashed out to eighth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).


Djokovic improved his season record to a superb 56-1, clinching the match after Monfils hammered a forehand into the net.


He was made to work for the win as the Frenchman started quickly, hitting four aces to take the first set.


The sixth seeded Monfils continued his stellar play in the second set, breaking Djokovic’s serve in the sixth game.


But Djokovic eventually came through, advancing to the semis where he will face Berdych.


The Czech claimed the third victory over Federer in a row and, despite playing with a sore shoulder, took full advantage of his opponent who has been struggling with his groundstrokes.


Fish, who zinged a cross court forehand past Nadal to seal his first victory over the Spaniard in seven attempts, next faces world number four Andy Murray, who cruised past France’s Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3.


Murray will play his sixth semifinal from his last seven events in 2011. “In a lot of the long rallies I managed to get the better of him.


“I’m glad to get another win before the U.S. Open. Last week was not great and I’m glad Iím playing better,” said the Scot.


Fish, who lost to Nadal at Wimbledon, said this match had felt different from the outset. “There is that difference between the feeling that you can win or even that you should win rather than that you hope to win,” he said.