Singles - Quarterfinals
N Kiefer (GER) d [7] J Blake (USA) 61 62
恭喜Kiwi! 生涯對Blake的首勝居然能這麼輕鬆.
四強對手是目前連勝中狀況很好的Simon,沒有對戰交手過.
打進四強後Kiefer的排名也快要重返top20,目前打進四強下週排名預定在#21.
In Saturday’s semifinal, Simon will face German Nicolas Kiefer who reached
his third Rogers Cup semifinal with a stunning 6-1, 6-2 victory over the last
seed remaining in the top half of the draw, No. 7 James Blake. It will be the
first meeting between Simon and Kiefer.
The oldest player left in the draw, Kiefer, 31, proved too hot for Blake to
handle, dropping just nine points on serve throughout and capitalizing on
five of seven break point chances to defeat the American for the first time
in four meetings after one hour.
The 28-year-old Blake was through to the quarterfinals in Canada for the
first time in five visits, having fallen second round at all four previous
attempts. The Tampa resident, No. 8 in the South African Airways ATP
Rankings, has reached the quarterfinals or better at nine earlier events this
season, including making quarterfinal exits at ATP Masters Series tournaments
in Indian Wells (l. to Nadal), Miami (l. to Nadal) and Rome (l. to Wawrinka).
It is the second time this season that World No. 37 Kiefer has defeated Top
10 players in back-to-back matches. The right-hander, who defeated No. 4
Nikolay Davydenko in the third round this week, knocked out No. 10 Wawrinka
and Davydenko in consecutive matches at Masters Series Hamburg, where he
reached the quarterfinals (l. to Seppi).
The Sievershausen resident was a semifinalist in Canada on his second event
appearance in 1999 (d. No. 2 Rafter, l. to T. Johansson) and again in 2004
when he defeated No. 4 Carlos Moya in the third round before later falling to
No. 2 Andy Roddick. He will now look to reach his first final at the Rogers
Cup, and his first of the season having fallen in the Halle semifinals (l. to
Federer) before Wimbledon.