Quarterfinal Results from Sydney and Auckland

SYDNEY

Richard Gasquet has extended his winning streak to eight over fellow Frenchmen after beating Jerome Chardy 6-2 7-6. Gasquet has already defeated three compatriots this season (Tsonga, Simon, Chardy), and as a first player in 2009 has won 6 ATP matches.

Gasquet will meet David Nalbandian who ousted Lleyton Hewitt in two tight sets, playing in tough conditions (heavy wind, 104 degrees). In the first set Nalbandian saved set point at 5:6 (earlier was 5:3 up), in the second was leading 5:2 (30-0) on return, before Hewitt leveled up at 5 games apiece. At 6:5 Nalbandian converted his first match point with backhand-return down the line. It has been first match between these two players for almost 4 years.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Jarkko Nieminen had a chance to play as a first pair, second match against each other in 2009 (Tsonga defeated Nieminen last week in Brisbane after a tight three-setter) but the Frenchman pulled out due to back problems. Tsonga is in doubt for the Australian Open which starts next Monday. “I had a problem with my disc a long time ago and sometimes it happens. I just have to wait and come back on the court when I feel better. I can’t do anything for the next two days. I will stay maybe in my bed and hope I will be better.” said Tsonga.

In the last match of the day Novak Djokovic knocked out Mario Ancic 6-3 6-4. Djokovic fought back from a 1:3 deficit in the first set, saving 6 break points in the 5th game, and also double break point while serving for the set. The Serb broke Ancic’s serve in the 3rd game of the second set and the match was interrupted twice by the rain. After the more than hour break, Djokovic easily held his service games to seal the victory in 1 hour and 39 minutes.

AUCKLAND

Sam Querrey struck 10 aces and never faced a break point in a convincing 6-3 6-2 win over Nicolas Almagro. Querrey broke his opponent twice in both sets to reach fifth ATP semifinal but first since July ‘08 (Indianapolis). “I’m going out and trying to be aggressive. This is the best I’ve played in a long time.” said Querrey.

After identical scoreline as Querrey, his match won Juan Martin del Potro but the Argentinian lost his serve once against Victor Troicki. “Tomorrow I will have a tough match for sure but if I play my game I can win so I have to be focused on my play” said Del Potro who has reached semifinals in almost each tournament in which had been playing since last year’s event in Stuttgart in July.

Defending champion, Philipp Kohlschreiber had to withdraw from the match against David Ferrer because of a right shoulder injury. “It was not easy to make the decision. Everyone likes to play in the quarterfinals and the tournament is just getting interesting so it makes me very sad.” said the German who played with the help of painkilling injections his dramatic second round match against Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ferrer advanced to the semifinal untypically, after playing just one match in the tournament (the Spaniard had “bye” in the first round).

Sydney – Quarterfinals

(1)(WC)Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Mario Ancic (CRO) 6-3 6-4
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. (3)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) w/o
(4)David Nalbandian (ARG) d. (WC)Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 7-6(3) 7-5
Richard Gasquet (FRA) d. (q)Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-2 7-6(4)

Auckland – Quarterfinals

(1)Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-2
(3)Robin Soderling (SWE) d. (q)John Isner (USA) 6-4 6-4
(6)Samuel Querrey (USA) d. (4)Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-3 6-2
(2)David Ferrer (ESP) d. (5)Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) w/o