Djokovic v. Del Potro In Bronze Rematch, Winner Gets A Swiss Sunday In Cincy; Serena Falls, Venus Rises
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Novak Djokovic will get a quick change at revenge Saturday in the semifinalist at the Cincinnati Masters 1000. The Serb who lost to Juan Martin Del Potro earlier this month in the bronze medal match at the London Olympic, will get a crack at the Argentine again tomorrow on the hardcourts.
Earlier on Friday Djokovic put away Marin Cilic in straight sets as did Del Potro who eased past Jeremy Chardy.
“He won that match,” Djokovic said today of the rematch. “It happens. It’s a sport. You lose, you win, but the most important
thing is to try to move on and become even better and even stronger from those experiences and try to win. So tomorrow will be my opportunity to win against him.”
Del Potro, who has been troubled by a left wrist injury – not the wrist he had surgery on – isn’t terribly concerned about the injury with the US Open coming up.
“The good thing,” he said. “I’m not getting worse so I can play. But anyway, I want to wait what’s the doctor says, because I have experience on my other wrist, and I don’t want to heard many people talking about my wrist.
“I will visit with him after this tournament and he will tell me what is the plan for the next tournament. But I’m very confident with my doctor. He’s the best of the world about wrist, so after here I will talk with him and we will see.”
The winner of the first semiifinal will be play a Swiss in the Sunday final. Roger Federer can clinch the No. 1 seed for the US Open by beating his friend and countryman Stanislas Wawrinka in the second semifinal.
Federer has won 10 of 11 meetings against Stan including eight straight and their last 12 sets.
“I’m happy for him he’s done so well, because he has had a rough spell since the French Open where I thought he played amazing,” Federer said after reaching his 12th semifinal in 13 events this year. “I have a tough matchup with him. It’s going to be a difficult one. Seems like he’s playing really well. I’m just excited for him and for me two Swiss guys can make it to the semis here in Cincinnati. t’s great.”
Federer had little trouble with Mardy Fish beating the American 6-3, 7-6. In the afternoon, Wawrinka went three sets before putting away Milos Raonic 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.
In the upset of the day, Serena Williams had her 19-match win streak snapped by Angelique Kerber. Calling it the biggest win of her career, Kerber knocked out the surging American 6-4, 6-4. And the victory comes just a few weeks after the the German beat Venus at the Olympics.
“So of course I beat both of them in the last, I don’t know, four weeks,” Kerber said. “For sure it’s a great feeling because they are both so great players and won so many Grand Slams in the past. They still playing so well. It’s great that I could beat both of them.”
Said Serena, “She didn’t do too much that threw me off. Her game is pretty straightforward. You know what to expect. She’s getting a lot of balls back. She played really well today. I think she served more up the T than I expected. I really hope to play her again in New York and be ready for that one.”
While Serena lost Venus rose up to beat US Open champion Sam Stosur in three sets to reach her first semifinal since 2010 She’ll play Li Na in the Saturday semifinals.
“Well, I’d like to think that this is only the beginning for me of more semifinals,” Venus said. “Of course I’m going to stay focused and try to make it a final match as well. So for me I’d like to take it a lot further. I haven’t played a lot since 2010, so this is awesome for me already.”
Kerber will meet Petra Kvitova in the late semifinal.
CENTER COURT start 1:00 pm
[6] J Del Potro (ARG) vs [2] N Djokovic (SRB) – ATP
Not Before 2:30 PM
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs S Wawrinka (SUI) – ATP
Not Before 7:00 PM
[9] N Li (CHN) vs [WC] V Williams (USA) – WTA
[4] P Kvitova (CZE) vs [5] A Kerber (GER) – WTA
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