The Hindu : Sport : Federer battles back, Jankovic doesn’t the results

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Federer battles back, Jankovic doesn’t the results

Bartoli knocks out the women’s top seed; fruitful day for the Indians

— Photo: AP

EMPHATIC WIN: Marion Bartoli stuck to her gameplan of not making too many mistakes as she ousted Jelena Jankovic at the Australian Open on Sunday.

MELBOURNE: The Australian Open was blown wide open on Sunday when top seed Jelena Jankovic crashed out while Roger Federer was forced to mount a memorable comeback to beat Tomas Berdych.

The Serb’s crushing 6-1, 6-4 defeat to French 16th seed Marion Bartoli put her alongside Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams as high-profile early round casualties, raising further questions about her world number one status.

Federer looked like he could join Jankovic after losing the first two sets to Czech Berdych, battling back to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 and stay on course for a record-equalling 14th Grand Slam title.

Meanwhile, India had a fruitful day at the Australian Open as Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi stormed into the quarterfinals while top seeds Leander Paes and Zimbabwean Cara Black advanced to the second round of the mixed doubles on Sunday.

Ruthless

The unseeded Sania-Bhupathi pair thrashed the Australian duo of Anastasia Rodionova and Stephen Huss 6-1, 6-2 in 54 minutes.

The Indians were ruthless and broke their rivals twice in each set and saved seven break points they faced in the match.

The top seeded Paes-Black pair overcame a stiff challenge from the Serbian duo of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Nenad Zimonjic to carve out a 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 win in the first round.

Both the pairs broke each other thrice but Paes-Black, the winners of the US Open last year, eventually prevailed in the deciding super-tie breaker to move to the next level.

Good omen

It was the first time Federer has come from two sets down since Miami in 2005, and he sees it as a good omen.

“Tomas did so well and he pushed me to the limit,” said the Swiss three-time champion.

“I enjoy those kinds of fights because they don’t happen very often, especially on Rod Laver Arena. I hope it is a good omen.

“I feel in great shape, I feel like I could go another two sets.”

His next opponent is Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, who recovered from a set down to grind out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over fellow young gun Marin Cilic. With Jankovic, Ivanovic and Williams now gone, the first Grand Slam of the season has become one of the most open ever with Bartoli into a quarterfinal against Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, who beat countrywoman Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-4.

“It’s obviously disappointing. Nobody likes to lose,” said Jankovic, who looked lethargic as she tried to play her way into the match.

“It was a tough day for me. You know, I had a slow start. I let my opponent completely come on top of me and play her game.”

She is now likely to lose her top ranking, but insisted it was not important.

“It doesn’t matter because it’s just the beginning of the year, and there are many more tournaments to play,” she said.

Bartoli was ecstatic at the upset but said she always felt she could win.

“I knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a matter of executing it, playing the right shot at the right time and not making too many mistakes,” said the Frenchwoman, who made the Wimbledon final in 2007.

Russian third seed Dinara Safina survived two match points to beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and will play Australian wildcard Jelena Dokic whose fairytale run continued with 7-5, 5-7, 8-6 win over Russia’s Alisia Kleybanova.

Safina appeared certain to follow Jankovic out when Cornet was serving for the match at 5-4 and 40-15, but she somehow clung on and hauled herself out of trouble. “I feel so lucky that I have the chance to play in the quarterfinals,” said Safina.

Del Porto’s distinction

Argentina’s del Potro became the youngest man in the last eight since Richard Krajicek in 1992 and has now reached two consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals after last year’s US Open.

“Against Roger, he will be the favourite. I’ll change nothing for the game,” insisted the 20-year-old.

Seventh-seeded Roddick was in ominous form as he downed Spanish 21st seed Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.

Tight first set

After battling out a tight first set, Roddick steamrolled his opponent in the second and third to send out a warning that he cannot be underestimated as he looks to add to his lone Grand Slam triumph at the US Open in 2003.

Among the Indian juniors, only Yuki Bhambri found success, that too after a lot of hard work, while Ronak Manuja and Rushmi Teltumbde were knocked out in the first round.

Men: Singles: Fourth round: 8-Juan Martin del Potro bt 19-Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; 7-Andy Roddick bt 21-Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3; 2-Roger Federer bt 20-Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; 3-Novak Djokovic bt Marcos Baghdatis 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-7(5), 6-2.

Women: Singles: Fourth round: 16-Marion Bartoli bt 1-Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-4; 3-Dinara Safina bt 15-Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5; 7-Vera Zvonareva bt 10-Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-4; Jelena Dokic bt 29-Alisa Kleybanova 7-5, 5-7, 8-6.

Mixed doubles: Second round: Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi bt Anastasia Rodionova & Stephen Huss 6-1, 6-2. First round: 1-Cara Black & Leander Paes bt Anna-Lena Groenefeld & Nenad Zimonjic 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 tiebreak.

Boys: Singles: First round: Jordan Szabo bt Ronak Manuja 7-6(3), 1-6, 13-11; 1-Yuki Bhambri bt German Sanchez Delfin 4-6, 6-1, 8-6.

Girls: First round: Nicha Lertpitaksinchai bt Rushmi Teltumbde 6-2, 6-4. — Agencies

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