The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : It’s Karlovic’s turn to stun Federer

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It’s Karlovic’s turn to stun Federer

TENNIS / Nadal close to the top spot

— PHOTO: AP

Roger Federer.

CINCINNATI: Roger Federer was upset in the third round of the ATP Cincinnati Masters here Thursday, meaning Rafael Nadal can capture the World No. 1 one ranking by winning the tournament.

Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic defeated Federer 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(7) and that means Spaniard Nadal can overtake the Swiss star and top the ATP rankings for the first time with a triumph in Sunday’s final.

Federer has owned the top ranking for 235 weeks but could surrender the spot after losing to the big-serving Croatian giant in a match where his service was never broken.

Federer said he did not care whether or not Nadal won the event to take the top ranking spot from him but was going to focus on the Olympics and US Open. “So far it’s OK,” Federer said. “I guess I’ll analyse and assess my game after the US Open.”

Third seed Djokovic swamped his second straight Italian opponent as he crushed Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2 a day after beating Simone Bolelli.

Bhupathi-Knowles advance

In doubles, fourth-seeded Indo-Bahamian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles advanced to the semifinals with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7(5), 12-10 win over American wild cards John Isner and Mardy Fish at Cincinnati

Important results: At Cincinnati (Western & Southern Financial Group Masters): Third round: Ernests Gulbis bt James Blake 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Novak Djokovic bt Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-2; Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Robin Soderling 7-6(4), 5-7, 7-6(8); Andy Murray bt Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 6-3; Ivo Karlovic bt Roger Federer 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(5); Carlos Moya bt Igor Andreev 6-4, 7-6(2); Nicolas Lapentti bt Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-5; Rafael Nadal bt Tommy Haas 6-4, 7-6(0). Second round: Carlos Moya bt Nikolay Davydenko 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-2. Doubles: Quarterfinals: Mahesh Bhupathi & Mark Knowles bt John Isner & Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-7(5), 12-10.

At Montreal (Rogers Cup): Third round: Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Michelle Larcher de Brito 7-5, 2-6, 6-4; Dinara Safina bt Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-2; Jelena Jankovic bt Stephanie Dubois 6-3, 6-2; Marion Bartoli bt Anna Chakvetadze 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4); Tamira Paszek bt Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 1-6, 6-2; Victoria Azarenka bt Virginie Razzano 7-6(4), 2-0 (retd).

At Stockholm (Nordic Light Open): Quarterfinals: Agnieszka Radwanska bt Camille Pin 6-2, 1-0 retired; Katarina Srebotnik bt Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-0; Caroline Wozniacki bt Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1, 6-3; Vera Dushevina bt Iveta Benesova 6-3, 6-3. — Agencies

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