Rafael Nadal came through a battle with another huge hitter, holding off a charge from Canadian Frank Dancevic to join Roger Federer in the semifinals of the Montreal Masters. Dancevic, ranked 89 spots below the Spanish world number two, put up a ferocious first set in front of 11,000 fans. But his bid to become the first home player into the Canadian semifinals since 1969 fell short as Nadal triumphed 4-6 6-2 6-3.
Victory hands Nadal, winner of the event the last time it was played here in 2005, a date with Serb Novak Djokovic, who beat Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. Roger Federer was broken for the first time this week but shrugged off the hiccup to post his 10th successive win over Lleyton Hewitt.
The Swiss won 6-3, 6-4 and now faces Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-4 7-5.
Bhupathi-Vizner win
Mahesh Bhupathi and his Czech partner Pavel Vizner upstaged fourth seeds Leander Paes and Martin Damm to set up a semifinal clash with top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in the doubles event. Bhupathi and Vizner, seeded eighth, beat Paes and Damm 7-6 (7) 2-6 10-8. Bob and Mike Bryan defeated the French pair of Arnaud Clement and Richard Gasquet 6-2 7-6 (3) in their quarterfinal.
Sharapova on song
Russia’s Maria Sharapova led the top four seeds into the semifinals of the $600,000 WTA hardcourt tournament in Los Angeles, sweeping aside defending champion Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-4.
Sharapova set up a clash with another compatriot, fourth-seeded Nadia Petrova, a 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-1 winner over Virginie Razzano of France. Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic and No 3 Ana Ivanovic set up an all-Serbian semifinal. Jankovic, runner-up to Dementieva here last year, posted a 6-4 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 victory over Victoria Azarenko of Belarus.
French Open runner-up Ivanovic defeated Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-4 6-4.
Sania crashes
Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek crashed out of the doubles event, losing to second seeds Rennae Stubbs and Kveta Peschke in the quarterfinals. Sania and Mattek lost 6-7 (2), 4-6 to the Australian-Czech duo.
