Blake sends Federer packing

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-15 08:23

Sixty-seven-year-old Hiroshi Hoketsu of Japan tries to control Whisper, which was running wild during the equestrian dressage grand prix competition in Hong Kong yesterday. The German team took the gold, the Netherlands, silver; and Denmark bronze. REUTERS

Roger Federer's bid for his first Olympic singles tennis medal ended yesterday with a loss to American James Blake.

Top seed Federer lost 6-4 7-6 to Blake in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men's tennis singles yesterday.

Federer's lackluster play yesterday was the sort of performance once unthinkable of the Swiss champion who will lose his top spot in the world rankings.

The upset was a stunner in that Blake had won only a single set in their previous eight matches.

But Federer is battling a year-long slump that has left him stalled at 12 major titles, two shy of Pete Sampras' record.

Federer's latest defeat means that he will not get a rematch against Rafael Nadal of Spain in Sunday's Olympic final.

Nadal won their last match in epic fashion when they met for the Wimbledon title.

Federer will lose his top world ranking Monday to Nadal.

The Swiss put on an error-strewn display under the Centre Court lights after a long rain delay yesterday.

He was simply outplayed as eighth seed Blake claimed his first victory in nine meetings. A clean service game and a powerful forehand helped the 28-year-old beat the Swiss.

The tennis events yesterday were delayed for four hours due to rain. Federer's match was the first.

Williams sisters ousted

Two other upsets shocked the women's singles quarterfinals yesterday when American sisters Serena and Venus Williams were both ousted.

Serena lost her match to Russian Elena Dementiva 3-6 6-4 6-3.

Later in the night, her sister Venus lost in two straight sets to China's Li Na 5-7 5-7.

A third match saw Russian Vera Svonareva beat Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-3 3-6 6-3.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/15/2008 page14)