Novak downs Jack, storms into quarterfinal
Novak Djokovic returns to Jack Sock during their Rogers Cup match at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, Canada, on Thursday. Djokovic won 6-2, 6-1. (Photo: AFP)
Montreal: World No.1 Novak Djokovic, second seed Andy Murray and three-time champion Rafael Nadal were all cheered into the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup on Thursday while controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios exited to boos and a hefty fine.
Djokovic, also a three time winner on the Canadian hardcourts, needed only 54 minutes to complete a 6-2, 6-1 demolition of American Jack Sock while Murray was equally economic in disposing of Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.
Nadal, finding his hardcourt footing coming off a clay court win in Hamburg, produced a snappy 6-3, 6-3 victory over Russian qualifier Mikhail Youzhny as Japanese fourth seed Kei Nishikori rolled to a 6-4, 6-4 win over 13th seed David Goffin.
While there were plenty of cheers in be heard across the Montreal tennis complex on Thursday few were for Kyrgios who entered his match to boos and exited the same way after falling 5-7, 3-6 to big-hitting American John Isner.
The Australian had insulted Swiss opponent Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday during their second round encounter. Prior to the match the ATP had fined Kyrgios $10,000, the maximum penalty available, for remarks directed at Wawrinka about his girlfriend picked up by a courtside microphone.
It was all calm on centre court where Djokovic got off to a sluggish start but after breaking to go up 3-2 the 28-year-old Serb was in complete control with the Sock managing just a single break chance, which he was unable to convert.
“At the beginning of the match I think we were both a bit rusty,” said Djokovic.
Serena Williams slays german Andrea Petkovic
World No.1 Serena Williams continued her dominance over Germany’s Andrea Petkovic with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the third round of the WTA Rogers Cup. Top seed Williams hammered 28 winners and blasted nine aces to beat the 16th seeded Petkovic for the fifth straight time.
Williams, who never faced a break point and held all nine of her service games in the 62-minute match on center court, barely broke a sweat Thursday. The 33-year-old American advances to the quarterfinals where she will face Roberta Vinci who snapped the win streak of rising star Daria Gavrilova with a 6-4, 6-3 win.
Simona Halep snaps Angelique Kerber’s run
Second seed Simona Halep smashed an ace on match point to defeat red-hot Angelique Kerber 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and reached the quarterfinals. Kerber had won seven in a row and was coming off her fourth title of the season after winning last week’s Stanford tournament.
Halep held serve to make it three-all and after the two traded breaks to get to four-all she roared home by winning the final two games at love to oust the number 13-seeded Kerber. “I think I played better than yesterday. I feel more confident now,” Halep said after winning the match.
Awaiting Halep is defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska, who rallied from 2-4 down in the third set to edge past France’s Alize Cornet 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
( Source : AFP )
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