Federer and Nadal out in Cincinnati – Djokovic can smell the US Open title

Written by: Global Chick on 20th August 2011

Federer and Nadal out in Cincinnati – Djokovic can smell the US Open title

Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts as he plays Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the men's singles final of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2011. EPA/GEOFF CADDICK |

American Mardy Fish slipped past World No. 2 Rafael Nadal 6-3 6-4 at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati today.

Fish has had a great summer in the US winning in Atlanta, runner up in LA (l. Gulbis) and lost to Djokovic last week in the final of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Montréal, Canada. Today was Mardy’s first career win over Nadal.

The 29-year-old American said, “I played a couple nervous points, but I was pretty happy with the way I executed.” Mardy Fish is yet to lose his serve this week, “I’ve been taking advantage of the opportunities, making a lot of first serves in key moments, not giving away many free points.”

Rafael Nadal will now travel to New York and prepare for the US Open. “I lost because Mardy played much better than me. I had a few chances. A little bit unlucky for moments, but that’s tennis,” the Spaniard said.

“Rafa” won the US Open title last year when he defeated Novak Djokovic in four sets in the final.

Mardy Fish moves into the semi-final and his opponent will be World No. 4 Andy Murray. The Brit took out France’s Gilles Simon in two comfortable sets 6-3 6-3.

Murray said of Simon, “He’s one of the best movers on the tour. You need to be very patient against him. Hew moves great. I thought I returned well today. I made it very difficult for him to get free points.”

Murray and Fish have played seven matches in the past and Fish leads 4-3. The last meeting took place at the ATP World Tour Masters in Cincinnati in 2010 when Mardy came through as the winner.

World No. 9 Tomas Berdych downed former world number one Roger Federer 6-2 7-6 (3) in one hour and 32 minutes to advance into the semi-finals in Cincinnati.

Berdych served very well and won 75 percent of his points on serve. The 25-year-old broke Federer twice in the first set. “I was really working on my serve after Wimbledon. When I had a few weeks off, I was really practising hard, and especially this was the one thing that I was really like trying to work on more than the other things,” the Czech player said.

Berdych is waiting to see who his semi-final opponents will be. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and World No. 8 Gael Monfils have not yet finished their match.