Resurgent Kiefer faces Nadal in Toronto Masters final
Nadal, playing his first event since his epic win over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, has made a smooth transition from grass to the North American hardcourts.
The Spaniard’s victory stretched his winning streak to 28 matches and left him on course for a fifth consecutive title following wins at Wimbledon, Queen’s, Roland Garros and Hamburg.
“My only expectation is to try and play a good match tomorrow, and if possible win the title,” Nadal, who won his first career hardcourt title in Canada in 2005, told reporters.
“I said when I arrive here I don’t think about number one, I don’t think about the hardcourt season or US Open or Olympics, I think about Toronto.
“Toronto is very important tournament. It’s the first big tournament on hard after the clay and grass court season, so my goal is try to play a good tournament here.”
Standing in Nadal’s way is the experienced Kiefer, who outlasted in-form Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 to continue his bid for his first ATP title since 2000.
In four career meetings, Murray had never beaten Nadal but appeared eager to put that right, matching the muscular Spaniard, shot-for-shot during a tense opening set that failed to produce a break.
Nadal dominated the tiebreak 7-2 after which Murray called for the trainer and had his right knee taped.
The Briton continued to battle in the second until Nadal took control, sweeping through the last three games.
The 31-year-old Kiefer needed all his experience and three hours to beat his 23-year-old opponent, who has had a superb start to the North American hardcourt season.
Simon arrived in Toronto after winning the Indianapolis title and was on a run of nine victories including a second-round upset of world No 1 Roger Federer.
Once ranked as high as world No 4, Kiefer has produced some of his old form in Toronto, knocking out seeds Nikolay Davydenko, James Blake and Mikhail Youzhny on his way to the semi-finals.
“It was a very close match, it’s not easy to play against him, we have the same game,” said Kiefer after reaching his first Masters final. “He has been on a run. he won in Indianapolis and a few good wins here.
“All I could do was fight for every point.
Saturday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):
Semi-finals: 2-Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt 8-Andy Murray (Britain) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3; Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) bt Gilles Simon (France) 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).
JANKOVIC DENIED
LOS ANGELES: Dinara Safina shattered Jelena Jankovic’s chances of securing the women’s number one ranking on Monday with a comprehensive 7-6, 6-1 victory in the semi-finals of the Los Angeles Classic on Saturday.
Safina will meet Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, who overcame blisters, scorching heat and fervent hometown support to beat American Bethanie Mattek 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the final.
Jankovic needed to win the tournament to grab top ranking from fellow Serbian Ana Ivanovic, but after losing the first set in a tiebreak was blown off the court in the second.
The Serb, who entered the tournament with a torn meniscus in her left knee, was philosophical about missing her opportunity.
“Hopefully my time will come, it’s not the end of the world, Jankovic said. “I had an injury and was supposed to be out quite a long time and at least I had an opportunity to compete here, even though I wasn’t at my best.”
Safina, who lost the French Open final to Ivanovic, overpowered Jankovic with a huge service game and more than matched her opponent’s athletic scrambling around the court.
The Russian failed to serve out the first set at 5-4, but then capitalised on a series of Jankovic forehand errors in the tiebreak to take it 7-3.
Jankovic’s form then completely deserted her in the second set and Safina ran out an easy winner.
“She played very well,” said Jankovic. “I had some chances in the first set and then I played a bad tiebreaker. In the second set, I couldn’t go anymore. My legs were shaking a little.”
Safina, who has now reached the final in four of her past five tournaments, said her run of good form was due to the work she had been doing with new coach, Zelikko Krajan, and fitness trainer, Dejan Vojnovic.
“It’s just clicked,” said Safina. “I’m trusting and listening to them. I know it’s the right way every time I step on court.
She will now meet the 10th-seeded Pennetta, who had to fight off three break points at 4-4 in the third set before she sealed victory after two hours 40 minutes on her third match point with a backhand crosscourt return of serve winner.
“It was not a great match and I didn’t play my best, but it’s important to win matches like these when you are not playing your best,” Pennetta said.
Results:
Semi-finals: 4-Dinara Safina (Russia) bt 1-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1; 10-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) bt Bethanie Mattek (US) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.—Reuters