Tennis
Federer-Nadal final on top in Rome Masters ROME (AP) – Top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal will meet for the third time this year in the Rome Masters final today.
Federer advanced to his 13th straight final with Saturday’s error-filled 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) win over No. 3 David Nalbandian. Nadal defeated 19-year-old Gael Monfils of France 6-2, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Nadal registered his 52nd straight win on clay and can match Guillermo Vilas’ Open-era record of 53 wins on the surface if he successfully defends his title.
“Playing the final in Rome is more important than the record,” Nadal said. “Winning the tournament is the goal. If I get the record, fine.”
Nadal is the only player to beat Federer this year, in finals at Dubai in March and the Monte Carlo Masters last month. He holds a 4-1 edge in his career meetings with Federer, including a semifinal win at last year’s French Open.
Federer finished with 50 unforced errors to Nalbandian’s 53 in the clay-court tuneup to the French Open, which begins May 28. The Swiss star said he is looking forward to the matchup with Nadal.
“I’m ready,” he said. “I think it’s always special to have No. 1 versus No. 2. It’s good for the game and I think both of us look forward to it. Especially on clay, it’s a good challenge for me.”
Federer’s win over Nalbandian tied him with Vilas for the second-most consecutive finals in the Open era. Ivan Lendl holds the record at 18 straight finals, set in 1981-82.
Nadal’s clay-court streak started at Monte Carlo in April 2005. During the run, he’s defeated 38 different opponents from 15 countries. He beat Argentines Guillermo Coria and Gaston Gaudio three times and eight players twice, including Federer.
Vilas, in a recent conference call from Thailand, expects Nadal to break his streak.
“I will be very surprised if he doesn’t,” Vilas said. “He’s a very strong player, he has a strong will. He has a strong gift of hands and he’s a fighter. He seems to lift his level in the crucial moments.”
German Open
BERLIN – Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-2 to reach the German Open final, where she will meet Nadia Petrova.
Henin-Hardenne needed only 57 minutes to win the most one-sided of her nine meetings with Mauresmo. The Belgian wrapped up victory with a forehand deep into the corner to improve her record to 24-1 at the French Open tuneup she has won three times.
“I’m surprised I beat a player like that so easily,” Henin-Hardenne said. “I really played my best level tennis – the best I have played in a long time.”
Mauresmo had already played earlier Saturday, beating Martina Hingis in a quarterfinal carried over a day because of darkness. The pair split sets Friday before the match was stopped, and the Frenchwoman charged back from 3-0 and 4-2 down in the final set Saturday to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“Some would say I was tired, but I won’t do that,” Mauresmo said. “Maybe the set against Martina would have been a good warmup if I didn’t play late last night.
“She played very well,” Mauresmo said. “I give her all the credit.”
Henin-Hardenne will face Petrova on Sunday after the fourth-ranked Russian routed Li Na of China 6-1, 6-0 to pick up her 14th straight win on clay. Li, playing her first major semifinal, had 33 unforced errors to eight by Petrova, whose three titles this year matches Mauresmo for the tour best.
Henin-Hardenne never gave Mauresmo a chance after an opening break. It was their first match since the Australian Open final, which Henin-Hardenne retired from with stomach pains.
“It is revenge, but it has nothing to do with the Australian Open,” Henin-Hardenne. “I always want to win against the player that beat me last time.”
Mauresmo’s quarterfinal against Hingis had lasted 2 hours, 16 minutes over two days and ended when the Swiss star netted a forehand. Hingis showed she has progressed since returning in January after nearly three years away from the sport with foot and ankle injuries.
Prague Open
PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Shahar Peer of Israel beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-3, 6-0 to reach the final of the clay-court Prague Open.
Peer will play fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia.