14 Saturday 21st January, 2012 Painful exit for Nadal into 4th Roddick round; knee is OK

BY JOHN PYE Azarenka, who beat four seeded players including MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) champion Li Na to win the Sydney — moved into the International last week, has only Federer beats Karlovic fourth round of the Australian lost eight games at Melbourne Park en route to the round of 16. Open without dropping a set or BY JOHN PYE The four-time showing any signs that a freak The 22-year-old from Belarus champion fended off Karlovic’s set knee injury is bothering him. will next meet Czech player Iveta MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — point in the tiebreaker with a return Second-ranked Nadal had a 6-2, Benesova, who beat Roger Federer made the most of his that brought the 6-foot 10 (2.08- 6-4, 6-2 win Friday over Slovakia’s rare opportunities Friday against the meter) Croatian to the net, then Lukas Lacko, the last quali- lobbed just over him. fier in the fastest serve in , cashing in Federer and Rafael Nadal are on draw, and will with some classic returns in a 7-6 (6), next play either 7-5, 6-3 win over Ivo Karlovic to the same side of the draw at a major John Isner or reach the fourth round of the for the first time since 2005 and Feliciano Lopez. Australian Open. could meet in the semi-finals. Nadal, who won the 2009 Australian title was broken three times and failed but has gone out to convert three break opportuni- in the quarterfi- ties. nals due to Azarenka was annoyed with injuries in the last herself for needing five match two years, felt a points to finish off Barthel, and crack and then for running out of challenges sharp pain in his before she really needed to review right knee while a line call in the last game. sitting in a chair at “I’ve been playing in the end not his hotel on the brave enough to finish the match weekend and was ... I had to get a little,” angry, Andy Roddick, left, of the US shakes hands with Australia’s concerned that he Azarenka said. after he retired injured in their second round might not be able to contest his opening match at the Australian Open tennis championship, in match. Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Medical tests didn’t Rycroft) show any serious dam- age, and he has had the knee heavily taped in BY JOHN PYE said of the hamstring his three matches tendon injury. “You know, since. MELBOURNE, your sensible mind says “The knee is fine ... Australia (AP) — Andy to have a sense of per- fourth round here, and I Roddick lunged for a shot spective. You still have it have a good feeling,” the by Lleyton Hewitt and pretty good. The competi- 10-time major winner felt a sharp pain in his tor in you feels terrible said. right leg. He stayed down and wants to break stuff.” Nadal is on the same on his hands and one Roddick had his half of the draw as Roger knee for a few seconds, chances against Hewitt, Federer at a major for the wondering if his converting the only first time since 2005. Australian Open was fin- breakpoint chance in the Federer, who has won four Victoria Azarenka ished. first set and even having Russian qualifier of his 16 titles The American played chances after he injured Nina Bratchikova 6-1, 6-3. in Australia, was playing Ivo the next two points, his leg. But when he Karlovic in the following match on Barthel was on a 10-match win- falling behind 3-0 in the knew he needed to win Rod Laver Arena. ning run in Australia after captur- second set, before taking two more sets to advance, On the women’s side, third-seed- ing her first title at the Hobart a medical timeout for he called the trainer, then ed Victoria Azarenka advanced International last week as a quali- walked over to shake when she beat Mona Barthel 6-2, 6- fier. treatment on his ham- Hewitt’s hand. 4 in a match between champions of Barthel hit 20 winners — one string. Still, Roddick played “I was hitting the ball two warmup tournaments. more than Azarenka — but she Rafael Nadal on. Clearly restricted, he as well as I could from a didn’t bother to chase compromised position down some shots and and still felt like I was walked slowly between just hanging on,” Roddick points with his head said. “I don’t know that it Friday’s results at a glance Bartoli heartbroken hanging down. would have been smart to MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Slovakia, and Andre Sa, Brazil, 5-7, 6-3, 6- Finally, after 16 more do that for two more sets. Results Friday at the $26.83 million 2. games, Roddick called it “And if somehow you Australian Open on outdoor hardcourts Santiago Gonzalez, Mexico, and over likely missing quits. He retired with pull a rabbit out of the at Melbourne Park (number in parenthe- (12), Germany, def. Hewitt leading the sec- hat, I don’t think you play ses denotes seeding): and Leonardo Mayer, ond-round match 3-6, 6-3, in two days. If I’m look- Singles , 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1. Olympics 6-4. ing at timelines, I think Men Michael Llodra, France, and Nenad “It’s a miserable, terri- there’s three weeks or so Third Round Zimonjic (3), Serbia, def. Marc Lopez and BY JUSTIN BERGMAN squad last year, saying her ble thing being out there before I have to play Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Lukas , Spain, 6-3, 6-2. MELBOURNE, Australia coaching structure made her compromised like that,” again. I like those time- Lacko, Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. Jurgen Melzer, Austria, and Philipp (AP) — Marion Bartoli says it’s “totally incompatible” with the Roddick said. lines a lot more than two Roger Federer (3), Switzerland, def. Ivo Petzschner (5), Germany, def. Juan unlikely she’ll be able to play in team. days.” Karlovic, Croatia, 7-6 (6), 7-5, 6-3. Ignacio Chela and Eduardo Schwank, the 2012 London Olympics Bartoli had hoped for an The 29-year-old It was Roddick’s earli- Women Argentina, 6-2, 6-4. because of an ongoing dispute exception from the ITF, but American knew he Third Round Women est exit from the with the French tennis federa- that’s a long shot. Barring that, wouldn’t be able to fool Iveta Benesova, Czech Republic, def. Second Round Australian Open since he tion, a situation she calls she admits she has few options. somebody he was playing Nina Bratchikova, Russia, 6-1, 6-3. and Nadia Petrova (5), first entered in 2002. By “heartbreaking.” She says she doesn’t have time for the 14th time, one of Victoria Azarenka (3), Belarus, def. Russia, def. Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and not defending points he Bartoli is France’s top tennis to take her case to the Court of the few active players on Mona Barthel, Germany, 6-2, 6-4. Urszula Radwanska, Poland, 6-1, 6-1. the tour who was older won at the start of last Agnieszka Radwanska (8), Poland, def. Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond (2), player and is ranked No. 9 in Arbitration for Sport. than him, somebody who season, he’ll drop in the Galina Voskoboeva, Kazakhstan, 6-2, 6-2. United States, def. , the world. But in order to com- “It’s really heartbreaking for rankings. He already Caroline Wozniacki (1), Denmark, def. Romania, and Virginie Razzano, France, pete in the Olympics, the me,” she said after her 6-3, 6-2 held the No. 1 ranking dropped to No. 14 last Monica Niculescu (31), Romania, 6-2, 6-2. 6-0, 6-0. International Tennis victory over in the before he did, and owned year, losing his spot as Julia Goerges (22), Germany, def. Andreja Klepac, Slovenia, and Alicja Federation requires that she be second round of the Australian one more Grand Slam the top American, after Romina Oprandi, Italy, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Rosolska, Poland, def. Nuria Llagostera on good terms with her nation- Open. “Honestly I really do feel title. an injury-interrupted Doubles Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja (13), al federation and have made I have a chance to make a “He’s a tough guy to Men Spain, 7-5, 6-4. season. herself available to play in Fed medal over there and especially play,” said Roddick, who Second Round and (11), For a player who has- Cup ties twice over the past at Wimbledon, on grass, where I is now 7-7 with Hewitt in Colin Fleming and (15), Italy, def. Anastasia and Arina n’t been able to add four years — conditions that had so much success in the career matches. “You can Britain, def. Alex Bogomolov Jr. and Igor Rodionova, Australia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. try to ham and egg it another Grand Slam sin- Kunitsyn, Russia, 6-0, 6-3. Mixed Bartoli doesn’t meet. past, and can’t go there just for against a lot of guys. But gles title since his only and Potito Starace, First Round The Frenchwoman has had a some stupid reason.” major victory at the 2003 Italy, def. , Austria, and Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi (6), long-standing feud with the Bartoli reached the he’s really intelligent. He U.S. Open, Roddick Michael Kohlmann, Germany, 6-4, 6-4. India, def. Natalie Grandin, South Africa, French federation over her Wimbledon final in 2007, losing knew what was going Leander Paes, India, and Radek and Jean-Julien Rojer, Curacao, 6-4, 6-2. independent coaching set-up to Venus Williams. on.” admits it’s a physically Stepanek, Czech Republic, def. Simone Abigail Spears, United States, and with her father and the fact he “Honestly that’s a subject Roddick was obviously and mentally painful Bolelli and Fabio Fognini (14), Italy, 6-2, 7- Mariusz Fyrstenberg, Poland, def. Peng wouldn’t be allowed to coach that I’m trying to avoid to speak restricted in the second experience. 6 (5). Shuai, China, and Jamie Murray,Britain, her during Fed Cup ties. about because just all the time, and third sets. He threw He said he’d had treat- Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram (13), 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 tiebreak. France captain Nicolas makes me really in a bad his racket into the wall at ment every day in the off- United States, def. Michal Mertinak, Escude left her off the French mood,” she said. one point and argued season to get prepared for with the chair umpire 2012. He had entered in over a line call. mixed doubles at the MELBOURNE, Australia He bristled noticeably Australian Open with (AP) — Top-seeded when a woman shouted with the Caroline Wozniacki has Thursday in brief “Come on Lleyton,” just idea of competing at the advanced to the fourth as Roddick was about to London Olympics. Mixed round of the Australian WEATHER: Mostly sunny, Kirilenko, No. 30 Angelique serve. doubles is off for now, as Open with a near-flawless high of 24 Celsius (75 Kerber. “It’s frustrating. It’s he concentrates on 6-2, 6-2 win Friday over Fahrenheit). LOSERS: Men: No. 12 Gilles discouraging,” he returning at San Jose Monica Niculescu of ATTENDANCE: Day ses- Simon, No. 15 Andy Roddick, next month. Romania. sion: 47,471, Night: 21,053. No. 19 Viktor Troicki, No. 26 ‘Hot-Rod’ down and out Wozniacki, who needs to TOTAL: 68,524. Marcel Granollers, No. 32 Alex advance to the quarterfi- WINNERS: Men: No. 1 Bogomolov Jr. nals to have any chance of Novak Djokovic, No. 4 Andy Women: No. 15 Anastasia retaining the No. 1 rank- Murray, No. 5 , No. Pavlyuchenkova, No. 17 ing, is still aiming for her 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 9 Dominika Cibulkova, No. 23 first Grand Slam singles Janko Tipsarevic, No. 14 Gael Roberta Vinci, No. 25 Kaia title. Monfils, No. 17 Richard Kanepi, No. 29 Nadia Petrova. Caroline Wozniacki One of her only glitches Gasquet, No. 23 Milos Raonic, STAT OF THE DAY: 500 — in Friday’s match came No. 24 Kei Nishikori, No. 27 the number of career match when she was serving for . wins by Serena Williams after the match, wasting one Women: No. 2 Petra her 2nd-round victory. match point and losing her Kvitova, No. 4 Maria QUOTE OF THE DAY: “It’s Wozniacki serve on Niculescu’s fourth Sharapova, No. 7 Vera a miserable, terrible thing break point. But Wozniacki Zvonareva, No. 9 Marion being out there compromised came back to break the Bartoli, No. 12 Serena Williams, like that,” Roddick on the right Romanian player in the No. 14 , No. 18 hamstring injury that forced into 4th round next game to clinch the Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 21 him to pull out of his match match. Ana Ivanovic, No. 27 Maria against Lleyton Hewitt.