zatoicchi
01.08.08, 03:54
CINCINNATI (TICKER) —Roger Federer fell again, and this time it will probably cost him his record-run at No. 1.
Federer absorbed another early exit with a 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) loss to Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic in the third round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters on Thursday.
By failing to reach the semifinals of this $2.6 million hardcourt tournament, the Swiss star will see his streak of 235 weeks atop the rankings end if Rafael Nadal wins the title. Federer was the defending champion here, and also won in 2005.
The second-ranked Nadal, who has won his last six tournaments, ousted German Tommy Haas, 6-4, 7-6 (7-0). Nadal had a chance to close it out in the 12th game, but Haas broke after fighting off a match point. Nadal then blew through the tiebreaker to end the match that lasted 2 hours, 2 minutes.
Federer upset by Karlovic, top spot in peril (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=AvvwByx1B8d9lK0u28XHEAE4v7YF?slug=txcinc innatitennis&prov=st&type=lgns)
Federer absorbed another early exit with a 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) loss to Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic in the third round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters on Thursday.
By failing to reach the semifinals of this $2.6 million hardcourt tournament, the Swiss star will see his streak of 235 weeks atop the rankings end if Rafael Nadal wins the title. Federer was the defending champion here, and also won in 2005.
The second-ranked Nadal, who has won his last six tournaments, ousted German Tommy Haas, 6-4, 7-6 (7-0). Nadal had a chance to close it out in the 12th game, but Haas broke after fighting off a match point. Nadal then blew through the tiebreaker to end the match that lasted 2 hours, 2 minutes.
Federer upset by Karlovic, top spot in peril (http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=AvvwByx1B8d9lK0u28XHEAE4v7YF?slug=txcinc innatitennis&prov=st&type=lgns)