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Gonzalez Knocks Out Nadal
Tenth-seeded Fernado Gonzalez breaks Rafael Nadal five times and has nearly three times as many winners in their quarterfinal matchup.
(Cameron Spencer - Getty Images)
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Gonzalez broke Nadal twice in the first set and again in the opening game of the second when the Spaniard crashed a forehand into the net on double breakpoint.
Gonzalez saved a breakpoint in the eighth game with a stunning forehand swipe, and took a 2-0 lead when Nadal's service return landed long on set point.
Nadal called for a medical time-out because of his leg after the third game of the third set. Because he had to remove his long shorts, he had to leave the court for treatment.
Gonzalez pounced on a second serve at break point in the fifth game of the third set, ripping a forehand winner for a 3-2 lead.
Nadal sent a pair of forehands wide on the last two points while serving at 3-5 to surrender the match.
"If I am playing bad, you can go home and say 'disappointing,' " Nadal said. "But today I just say, well, I can't do more. I try my best."
Clijsters wasn't sure how she won after making 62 unforced errors and dropping serve five times.
"I still am asking myself," said the 23-year-old Belgian, who has announced she will retire at the end of the year. "I think the only two things that I did well today was I fought and I tried."
Sixth-seeded Hingis is a three-time former champion here and reached the finals three other times. The fans virtually adopted Clijsters while she was dating Australian player Lleyton Hewitt.
Clijsters had trouble with just about everything at first against Hingis and double-faulted on set point. Hingis contributed to the malaise with a mix-it-up strategy that included drawing the Belgian to the net, then sending lobs over her head.
"She's a player who really feels it," Clijsters said of Hingis. "She knows when the opponent's not playing well. She plays on your weaknesses."
Clijsters finally started finding the range, breaking Hingis twice in the second set. Hingis staved off four break points while serving at 3-3 in the deciding set before Clijsters converted the fifth.
Frustrated, Hingis angrily spiked her racket in the next game, then twice kicked balls in the ninth as she fell behind 15-40 while serving at 3-5. A forehand winner down the line ended the match.
"It was definitely the most disappointing loss against her I've had," said Hingis, 0-4 against Clijsters since her comeback and 4-5 overall. "Some players wouldn't have come back, but she did. She's a great fighter."
Clijsters ended Hingis' remarkable comeback run here in the quarterfinals last year, when the Swiss star was ranked No. 349 and returning from three years off the circuit because of injuries. She also beat Hingis in the quarterfinals at the French Open.
"It's great playing her and everything, but I don't want to see her in the quarterfinals ever again," Hingis said, laughing. "It's like every time I get to the quarters I have to face Kim."
