Federer, Roddick On Task for Grasscourt Repeat Titles

Posted on June 11, 2005

Hewitt Shocked by Grass Specialist Karlovic at ATP Queens

Croatian Ivo Karlovic played "Dr. Ivo" to Lleyton Hewitt's Austin Powers again Friday in the quarterfinals at the ATP stop at the Queen's Club, putting on a shag-a-delic serving-and-volleying performance to hand the former Wimbledon winner his second straight loss in their last two meetings.

"There wasn't a whole heap I could do about that," said Hewitt of the 7-6(4), 6-3 loss, the second after Karlovic knocked him out in the first round two years ago at Wimbledon. "My actual ball strategy and what I was in control of today was pretty good. That's what happens sometimes on this surface."

Favorite Andy Roddick advanced into the semis with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Sebastien Grosjean, a match that was a repeat of the last two finals at the Queen's Club.

"Seb's had really, really good results on grass the last couple of years," Roddick said. "I'm really excited. After three matches you just want to be alive still."

The last Brit exited Friday when (3) Tim Henman could not deal with the service return of (6) Thomas Johansson, falling 6-4, 6-4, and (4) Radek Stepanek moved into the semis with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over (10) Richard Gasquet who suffered from wisdom teeth pain, resulting in a subsequent withdrawal from the doubles quarterfinals.

"I'm disappointed with my performance, I never gave myself the opportunity to put pressure on him," Henman said.

Into the doubles semis were (1) Bjorkman/Mirnyi (d. (7) Etlis/Rodriguez), (2) Bryan/Bryan (d. Clement/Grosjean in three), (5) Aspelin/Perry (d. Johansson/Koenig), and (6) Cermak/Friedl (d. Benneteau/Gasquet by walkover).

On Saturday's schedule is (4) Stepanek vs. (2) Roddick (first meeting), Karlovic vs. (6) T.Johansson (Swede leads career meetings 1-0), and in the doubles (5) Aspelin/Perry vs. (2) Bryan/Bryan, and (1) Bjorkman/Mirnyi vs. (6) Cermak/Friedl.

Federer, Safin, Haas in ATP Halle Semifinals

World No. 1 Roger Federer led a solid cast into the semifinals Friday at the ATP stop in Halle, defeating unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 in his attempt to win a third consecutive Halle title.

Also into the semifinals in straight sets were (2) Marat Safin (d. O.Rochus), (4) Guillermo Canas (d. Schuettler), and homecountry favorite (7) Tommy Haas (d. (WC) Ferrero).

"It's the first time for a few matches I didn't lose my serve," Federer said. "I would really like to play against Tommy (Haas) once again, because we didn't meet each other on the court for a long time. The last match was in Paris-Bercy in 2002 before his long period of injury, I remember, and that was a very important match for me, because by winning this match I was able to join the Masters (Cup) in Shanghai."

Haas was also looking forward to his semifinal match against the Swiss.

"Last time we played was actually my last match before my first injury in 2002, so this is something special for me, because ever since I was off he overtook the tennis world and was playing some unbelievable tennis," Haas said. "I have nothing to lose against him, of course he's the favorite, so I'll go out and try to show my best tennis."

Federer and Haas are tied at 2-2 in their career head-to-head meetings, while Safin leads Canas 3-2 in their meetings.

Haas, Safin and Canas have never won a grasscourt title.

The team of T.Johansson/Safin received a walkover in their doubles semifinal, and Sunday will face the winner of Saturday's (1) Bhupathi/Woodbridge vs. Allegro/Federer semifinal.

Sharapova, Golovin in Rematch at WTA Birmingham

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova and No. 5 Tatiana Golovin advanced to a rematch of last year's final, this time in the Saturday semifinals at the WTA stop in Birmingham.

Sharapova was tested 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 by unseeded Greek Eleni Daniilidou, while Golvin defeated Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-4, 7-6(3).

"From the beginning of the match, I wasn't playing well, had no timing and wasn't serving well," said Sharapova, pushed for the second time to three sets in the event. "But it's impossible to play your third match on grass and play unbelievable."

Sharapova benefited in the third set from Daniilidou's choking ways at crunch time.

"All credit to my opponent as she played well," said Sharapova, suffering from a cold and a thigh strain, after being handed the victory. "I had played badly for the first two sets, so in the third set I had better pick it up. I fought really hard out there."

The win was Sharapova's 15th consecutive on grass.

Also into the semis were No. 3 Jelena Jankovic (d. Washington), and unseeded American Laura Granville (d. Tanasugarn).

"I'm looking forward to a good match," said Golovin on facing Sharapova. "We haven't played each other since here last year, but we played so many times when we were younger that we know each others games so well."

Sharapova leads Golovin 1-0, with their lone tour meeting in last year's final, with Jankovic and Granville meeting for the first time on tour.

Saturday's doubles semis will be (1) Black/Huber vs. Daniilidou/Russell, and (2) Hantuchova/Sugiyama vs. (4) Stewart/Stosur.

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