Stanislas Wawrinka, the second highest ranked Swiss player after Roger Federer, claimed his first ATP title at the Studena Croatia Open (also known as the Umag Open) when No.4 seed Novak Djokovic had to retire with respiratory problems. Wawrinka was down 3-1 in the first set tie-break when Djokovic had to stop.
It came as a shock because Novak had won his first ATP title the week before, and he had possibly burned himself out.
With the win Wawrinka became the eighth first-time ATP winner this season: Nieminen (Auckland), Murray (San Jose), Stepanek (Rotterdam), Horna (Acapulco), Almagro (Valencia), Bracciali (Casablanca) and Djokovic (Amersfoort).
Singles Final:
S Wawrinka (SUI) d (4)N Djokovic (SCG) 66 (1-3) ret. (respiratory problems)
Nadal Closes on First Wimbledon Final
Rafael Nadal continued his unexpected charge towards the Wimbledon final Thursday when he dismissed friendly Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first semifinal at the All England Club. Despite being seeded second, few people expected that Nadal's heavy topspin game would carry him to the last four at Wimbledon. For the third consecutive match Nadal did not drop serve and he has won 12 consecutive sets since being down two-sets-to-love against American qualifier Robert Kendrick in the second round.
Nadal, who successfully defended his Roland Garros title last month by claiming his 60th consecutive clay court match win in the final against Roger Federer, is on course to meet Federer in the Wimbledon final in what would be the second 1 vs. 2 Grand Slam final. Standing in his way is free-swinging Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, who took out 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals.
The 20-year-old Spaniard is attempting to become the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to complete the elusive Roland Garros-Wimbledon 'double' in the same year.
Nadal has beefed up his serve during The Championships and today saved both break points he faced. He did not face a single break point against Irakli Labadze in the fourth round, nor against Andre Agassi in the third round. In his five-set second-round win over Kendrick, Nadal faced two break points and was broken once. In the first round against Briton Alex Bogdanovic Nadal faced five break points and was broken once.
SERVE IT UP
Both No. 1 seed Roger Federer and No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal have been miserly with their serves during The Championships.
Federer has held 68 of 70 service games thus far while Nadal is an impressive 87 of 89, including 66 straight service games held since losing his serve in the second game of the second set in the second round vs Kendrick.
*article from www.atptennis.com, copyright!
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Yinette Perez
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