SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 Stosur outlasts Doi to make Japan Open semis OSAKA: Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur of got off to a slow start before posting a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victo- match. In the third set, Stosur took a 4-2 lead with a Australia made her second semi-final of the year, over- ry over Czech qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, service break, only to see Doi break back. coming a determined fightback by Japan’s Misaki Doi for while Nara assured the host nation a presence in the last In the next game, a double fault by Doi set up a break a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win yesterday. The third-seeded Stosur, four by scraping out a 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-1 win over point which Stosur converted, before holding serve to aiming for her fifth career WTA title will face highly tout- Slovenia’s Polona Hercog. win in 1 hour, 38 minutes. The Australian, who has had ed American teenager Madison Keys, who advanced to The 29-year-old Stosur, who had beaten Doi in Osaka muted success since winning the 2011 US Open, had her first WTA semi-final with a 6-3, 6-1 win over China’s in 2011 in their only previous meeting, looked like she been 0-4 in quarterfinals this year until she broke Zheng Jie. The other semi-final today at the Utsubo would run away with the rematch when she zipped to a through in Carlsbad in July, where she went on to win a Tennis Center will meet Canadian teenager Eugenie 5-0 lead before taking the first set. But the unseeded Doi fourth career title. Bouchard, currently ranked 35th after Bouchard, the No 5 seed, and unseeded Kurumi Nara of stiffened her resistance, earning a service break in the starting the year at No 145, will be looking for her first Japan after both women won in three sets. Bouchard eighth game of the second set before levelling the win in three semifinal appearances this year.— AFP No more ‘Big four’ for faltering Fed SHANGHAI: Roger Federer insists he can defy his advancing years but increasingly regular defeats have pushed him out of the “Big Four” and tell their own story of decline. Just 12 months ago the Swiss great, now aged 32, was back at the top of the world rankings after winning his seventh Wimbledon crown. But this year has been sobering for the 17-time Grand Slam champion, who saw his incredible record of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals ended abruptly in the second round at Wimbledon, before an early exit at the US Open. Thursday’s third round defeat at the Shanghai Masters for the world number sev- en-at the hands of flamboyant Frenchman Gael Monfils-was in some ways notable for its lack of shock value. Expectations have waned. There is no longer the confidence that Federer, who has amassed 77 titles and nearly $80 million in prize money, will dig deep and produce the magic when he needs it most. The player himself remains sanguine about his drop down the rankings, as the “Big Four” shrinks to a “Big Three” of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray-yet he insists he can turn his form around. Following his defeat to Monfils, ranked 42nd in the world, Federer, with just one title to his name this year, spoke about his hopes for a strong end to the season. He refused to punish him- self even though he is in serious danger of missing out on next month’s eight-man, end-of-season World Tour Finals, which he has won a record six times. “It’s pretty simple-you just keep on SHANGHAI: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating France’s Gael Monfils at their singles quarterfinal match of the working hard, make sure that you get back on winning ways, Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center yesterday. — AP then you become confident again, sort of get there,” he said. “It’s just important not to worry too much, to be honest,” he added. “It’s important to keep on doing what I’m doing. Djokovic sees off Monfils Obviously, I might get tougher draws as we move along with my ranking not being in the top four any more. But that’s OK.” Djokovic, while acknowledging that the Swiss has not played his Djokovic on course for potential Nadal showdown best tennis over the past year, is wary of writing him off. “He’s Federer. He’s the top Grand Slam winner in history. Whenever he SHANGHAI: Novak Djokovic stayed on course for a potential block- proved decisive. He will next face either Nadal or Switzerland’s plays, wherever he plays, he’s always in the spotlight, he’s always buster Shanghai Masters title match against Rafael Nadal yesterday, Stanislas Wawrinka, and is just one win away from qualifying for the man to beat,” said the Serb. surviving a withering assault from Frenchman Gael Monfils to win his next month’s World Tour Finals in London. “I played very well “This is fact, and it’s going to stay that way as long as he’s quarter-final 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-4. Elsewhere in last-eight action, Jo- today, very solid,” said Del Potro, who has overcome a fever in going to play tennis.” And former Australian great Rod Laver, Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro breezed through their Shanghai. “I played aggressive. I hit my forehand very well. I like the speaking in Shanghai before Federer’s defeat, predicted the matches in straight sets as they hunt berths at next month’s elite way I played today. I just want to keep improving and keep going Swiss could yet add to his bulging Grand Slam collection, most World Tour Finals. In a first set full of brutal baseline tennis, Monfils far in this tournament.” Del Potro, 25, is wary of a possible match- likely at the Australian Open or Wimbledon. But Federer, who and Djokovic swapped two service breaks each before the match up with the Spanish world number one, describing him as “unbeat- has struggled with back problems this year, has won just one of settled into a more regular groove, going to a tie-break won by the able”. “You have to have a perfect day with Rafa. We’ll see how it’s his past five matches against Nadal in an increasingly lopsided Frenchman when the top seed went long with a backhand. going,” he said. rivalry, and has endured high-profile defeats at the hands of both But Monfils, cutting an imposing figure in his bright orange top Seventh seed Tsonga was equally impressive in securing a com- Djokovic and Murray. with a shock of dark hair, let his intensity slip at the start of the sec- fortable 6-2, 6-3 victory against 50th-ranked Florian Mayer of The man who has spent a record total of 302 weeks at world ond set and Djokovic immediately seized the initiative with a break. Germany in just 64 minutes. Tsonga, who landed just 54 percent of number one has perhaps missed the chance to go out in a blaze A time violation against Monfils rattled the Frenchman, who became his first serves but saved all four break points he faced, admitted he of glory in the manner of Pete Sampras after his US Open win in embroiled in an argument with the umpire and was soon flat on his was not quite 100 percent fit after problems with his knee, which 2002. But the father of twins, who has cut down on the number back receiving treatment on his stomach as the set slipped away forced him to miss the US Open. But he believes he will have a fight- of tournaments he plays, still apparently loves the game enough from him. Monfils, who conquered Roger Federer in the previous ing chance against the top seed even though he has lost his past six to stick around on tour. Federer may be content to follow the round, re-discovered his mojo at the start of the decider, rattling matches against the Serb. example of fellow 32-year-old Lleyton Hewitt, who continues to Djokovic, who hurled his racquet in disgust after one mistake. “He was the number one for many, many weeks, and he was play- play years after he fell from the pinnacle of the game. But it was the Serb who made the crucial break, in the seventh ing well, he was confident,” said Tsonga, 28. “I think he lost more Regardless of the swirling debate over his future, it is clear game, letting out of roar of triumph before going on to seal the matches this year than the other years, so maybe it’s an opportunity that for Federer, talk of long-term decline is premature. “My match. Earlier, former US Open champion Del Potro eased into the for me.” The top eight players of the season qualify for the World mindset now is, OK, next year is going to be a great year again semi-finals, firing 27 winners and making just eight unforced errors Tour Finals in London, with five places still up for grabs. Nadal, where I’m not going to have that many points to defend, espe- in a routine 6-3, 6-3 win against Nicolas Almagro, the Spanish 15th Djokovic and David Ferrer have already qualified.