TORONTO: A rusty Rafael Nadal lost 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 to Tomas Berdych at the Toronto Masters, ending hopes of a dream final against Roger Federer.

After cruising through the opening two rounds in straight sets, Nadal looked on course for a Sunday showdown with the World No. 1 Federer. But Berdych spoiled those plans with a gritty performance against the defending champion, who was playing in his first event since losing to Federer in the Wimbledon final.

Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland progressed with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-0 win over Dmitry Tursunov of Russia. Federer will face Xavier Malisse of Belgium, who defeated Thomas Johansson of Sweden 7-6(7), 6-3.

Tough encounter

Serena Williams had to battle from a set down in the third round to join top seed Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals of the JP Morgan Chase Open at Carson (California).

Playing in her second tournament in seven months because of a knee injury, Serena overcame Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match full of rasping winners and unforced errors.

Sharapova made short work of Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-2 to complete her seventh victory in a row.

In other matches, the third-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva beat Israel's Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-3 while American wildcard Bethanie Mattek eased past Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-1, 6-1.

The results:

At Toronto (ATP Rogers Cup): Third round: Roger Federer bt Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 5-7, 6-0; Tomas Berdych bt Rafael Nadal 6-1, 3-6, 6-2; Fernando Gonzalez bt Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3); Andy Murray bt Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-4; Jose Acasuso bt Julien Benneteau 6-3, 7-6(4); Richard Gasquet bt Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 4-6, 6-2; Xavier Malisse bt Thomas Johansson 7-6(7), 6-3; Jarkko Nieminen bt Davide Sanguinetti 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(10).

At Carson, California (WTA JP Morgan Chase Open): Third round: Maria Sharapova bt Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-2; Serena Williams bt Daniela Hantuchova 1-6, 6-3, 6-3; Elena Dementieva bt Shahar Peer 7-5, 6-3; Dinara Safina bt Laura Granville 6-2, 7-6(2); Jelena Jankovic bt Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-1; Bethanie Mattek bt Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-1; Meghann Shaughnessy bt Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-3, 6-3.

At Stockholm (WTA Nordic Light Open): Second round: Zheng Jie bt Kaia Kanepi 6-4, 6-4; Eva Birnerova bt Jarmila Gajdosova 6-2, 6-3; Caroline Wozniacki bt Eleni Daniilidou 7-5, 7-5; Sofia Arvidsson bt Johanna Larsson 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. — Agencies

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