Medibank International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Djokovic beats rain and Ancic

Friday 16 January 2009 Comments

Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic won a rain-interrupted quarter final match against Croatia’s Mario Ancic on Ken Rosewall Arena at the Medibank International Sydney that finished late into the evening.

The No. 1 seed Djokovic defeated Ancic 6-3 6-4 in a match that lasted over three and half hours, due to two rain breaks. The first rain break at 1-1 in the second set lasted for 20 minutes, whilst a longer delay of I hour and 25 minutes occurred a short time later when Djokovic was up a break at 3-1 in the second set.

Despite the rain interruptions, loyal fans of both players stayed the distance at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.

Earlier in the evening, third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew from the event with a back injury. He was due to meet Finn Jarkko Nieminen in a quarter final match following the Djokovic – Ancic encounter.

During the day session Dinara Safina, David Nalbandian, Elena Dementieva and Richard Gasquet all scored wins.

Russian duo Safina and Dementieva both scored strong wins over Ai Sugiyama and Serena Williams, respectively, to secure spots in Friday night’s final, which is a repeat of the Olympics final in Beijing last August.

Dementieva’s results was the biggest talking point of the day, as she dismissed top seed and world No. 2 Serena Williams 6-3 6-1. 

The Russian world No. 4 looked in control throughout the 68 minute semi final, whilst Williams, recovering from a late quarter final win over Caroline Wozniacki the night before, never settled into a rhythm.

Safina had a tougher time disposing of Japan’s Ai Sugiyama. She took an hour and 44 minutes to secure her place in the women’s singles final, defeating the Japanese veteran 6-4 7-6(3).

In the men’s draw, the eagerly anticipated showdown between fourth seed David Nalbandian and Australian Lleyton Hewitt produced a closely fought match.  The Argentine won the encounter 7-6(3) 7-5 and ended Hewitt’s hopes of a fifth Medibank International Sydney title.

Nalbandian will face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the semi finals on Friday. Gasquet scored a relatively comfortable win over compatriot, qualifier Jeremy Chardy, 6-2 7-6(4).

Tags: Mario Ancic, Novak Djokovic

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