The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Kuznetsova and Clijsters bow out

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Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007
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Kuznetsova and Clijsters bow out

CALLING THE SHOTS: Shahar Peer knocked out Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open. — Photo: AFP

MIAMI: The champions of the last two years, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Kim Clijsters, were ousted in three-setters in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Monday.

Defending champion Kuznetsova was beaten by Shahar Peer of Israel 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 while 2005 winner Clijsters lost to Li Na of China 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Serena Williams set up a showdown with the top-seeded Maria Sharapova and the second-seeded Justine Henin strolled into the quarterfinals by beating Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-3, 6-2. Serena cruised past Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4.

In men's play, the top-ranked Roger Federer served poorly but still beat Nicolas Almagro of Spain 7-5, 6-3 to reach the fourth round. Federer won his 14th match in a row at Key Biscayne, where he is seeking his third consecutive title.

``I'm still kind of looking to come back into rhythm after not having many matches in the last couple of weeks,'' Federer said.

Another meeting

He will next face Argentine qualifier Guillermo Canas, who ended Federer's 41-match winning streak two weeks ago at Indian Wells. Canas got past Richard Gasquet of France 7-6(3), 6-3.

The final appearance at Key Biscayne for fourth-seeded Clijsters ended with her first ever loss to Li. Clijsters plans to marry and retire this year.

In only her fourth tournament this year, she fell before the quarterfinals for the first time. She was broken in half of her 14 service games by Li, the highest-ranked Chinese player ever, and conceded seven double faults.

Kuznetsova, at a career-high No. 3, lost the last four games to No. 16 Peer who had also beaten the Russian in the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The results:

Men: Third round: Radek Stepanek bt Alejandro Falla 6-3, 6-2; Amer Delic bt Nikolay Davydenko 7-6(5), 6-3; Tommy Robredo bt Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-4; Juan Ignacio Chela bt Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6(6); Roger Federer bt Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-3; Guillermo Canas bt Richard Gasquet 7-6(3), 6-3; Ivan Ljubicic bt Fabrice Santoro 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Jarkko Nieminen bt David Nalbandian 6-4, 7-6(3).

Women: Fourth round: Nadia Petrova bt Dinara Safina 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Anna Chakvetadze bt Mara Santangelo 6-1, 7-5; Justine Henin bt Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2; Tathiana Garbin bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-2; Li Na bt Kim Clijsters 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Shahar Peer bt Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Nicole Vaidisova bt Vera Dushevina 6-2, 6-4; Third round: Serena Williams bt Lucie Safarova 6-3, 6-4. — AP

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