“That’s one of the best wins of my career,” said Mattek-Sands, who hit 32 winners during the aggressive assault. “I knew she wasn’t going to give it to me. She’s a champion, and I had to play some of my best tennis ever to beat her…It was kind of a battle of who can take control of that middle court.”

“This was the first win here I had also after I had twins, right? So it’s great coming back here,” Federer said. “I’ve been able to win five. It’s obviously incredible because I remember the first few here I struggled. Now looking back it’s just unbelievable. Plus this was probably the best week ever here in Cincinnati for me never dropping my serve and all that stuff and beating Novak in the final. This was very sweet. No doubt about it.”

Tremendous headcase and defending French Open champion Li Na exited Roland Garros on Monday in her own inimitable fashion — losing 6-0 to a qualifier.

She said the prize-winning melons were not only a distraction (aside, we guess, from some cheesecake photos she engaged in featuring the flotilla), but uncomfortable and caused her back pain.

“I am through. I’m in the semifinals, so that’s the thing,” Nadal told reporters. “I have to be playing better and better every day if I want to have chances to win the final and that’s what I’m going to try.”

Li will next face No. 4 seed Victoria Azarenka, who advanced easily 6-2, 6-3 over unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

“I finally feel like you guys can call me Aussie Kim, because I won the title,” Clijsters told the crowd after the match. Clijsters picked up the nickname Aussie Kim when she used to date Australian former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. “I’ve been coming here for many years and you guys have always been amazing. I really appreciate it. It helps so much when you’re fighting to win the title.”

“I made a lot of mistakes in the first set and in the beginning of the second set, but after I saved match point I thought, ‘Okay, now’s your chance,’” Li said. “It’s tough playing against her. She’s running — I felt some of my shots were winners but every time she got the ball back. It’s tough for everyone to play against.”

On the court in Wednesday quarterfinal action will be (25) Petra Kvitova vs. (2) Vera Zvonareva, and (12) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (3) Kim Clijsters.

“I think it was a very good week,” Nalbandian said. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes you play good and lose, sometimes you play bad and win. Sport is like that. Today I lost. I will try to play better every day.”