BSP-23 Federer, Kerber stunned as Nadal powers into Open quarters

529

ZCZC

BSP-23

TENNIS-AUS-OPEN LEAD

Federer, Kerber stunned as Nadal powers into Open quarters

MELBOURNE, Jan 20, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Defending champion Roger Federer was
stunned by fiery Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas who ended his bid for a record
seventh Australian Open Sunday on a day of upsets that also saw second seed
Angelique Kerber crash out.

The Swiss master caved in under the energy and pressure of a man 17 years
his junior to tumble out 6-7 (11/13), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-6 (7/5) in the last
16 on Rod Laver Arena.

World number two Kerber was also sensationally bundled out by a woman
playing the event for the first time, with American Danielle Collins
humiliating the Wimbledon champion 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour.

The man Federer beat in last year’s final, sixth seed Marin Cilic, was also
sent packing by Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, who now plays Tsitsipas in the
quarter-finals.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Shaparova was another to fall, but there
was no such drama for a rampant Rafael Nadal who powered into the last eight
with a straight sets win over Tomas Berdych.

Federer was gunning for a 21st Grand Slam title but had a battle on his
hands from off against the 20-year-old, touted among the new generation of
young stars as a future champion.

“I’m the happiest man on Earth right now, I cannot describe it,” said the
14th seed, who is the first Greek in history to reach the quarter-finals of a
Slam.

“I’ve been idolising him (Federer) since the age of six. It was a dream
come true for me just being on Rod Laver facing him. Winning at the end, I
can’t describe it.”

The Swiss great was gracious in defeat, saying “I lost to a better player
who was playing very well, who hung in there and stayed calm”.

Wimbledon winner and 2016 champion Kerber, the bookies’ favourite along
with Serena Williams after defending champion Caroline Wozniacki was ousted
early, was no match for Collins, ranked 35 in the world.

Collins is little known after playing much of her tennis in the US college
system and was making her debut in the main draw at Melbourne Park. She had
never won a Grand Slam match before this year.

“I may not have won a Grand Slam match before this but I tell you, it’s
going to keep happening,” said the 25-year-old. “I better have many more of
these.”

– Chipping away –

Men’s second seed Nadal, returning from foot surgery, barrelled past former
world number four Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) as he stays on track for
an 18th Grand Slam title.

“I always say the same when I am back for injury,” said the Spaniard. “I
don’t expect negative or positive things. I just try to do my work every day
and just be with (the) right attitude every single day.”

He will play world number 39 Frances Tiafoe for a place in the semi-finals
after the young American celebrated his 21st birthday by grinding his way
past Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (1/7), 7-5. Hometown hero Ashleigh
Barty also made the last eight after muscling past Sharapova and will next
meet Petra Kvitova.

Sharapova claimed her biggest scalp since completing a drugs ban in 2017
when she rolled Wozniacki in round three and looked on track to carry the
momentum forward.

The 30th seed won the first set but then fell to pieces, eventually
succumbing 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

“I knew I had to keep chipping away — in a sense, trust the work we’ve
done. I know that I can match it with the best,” said Barty, seeded 15.

Next up for the diminutive 22-year-old is Kvitova, who beat Barty in the
final of the warm-up Sydney International this month.

The two-time Wimbledon champion beat 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-1
to match her best performance at a major since being slashed in a terrifying
attack at her home in late 2016 that left her with lasting nerve damage in
her fingers.

BSS/AFP/ARS/1842 hrs