Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Guillermo Cañas beat Roger Federer for the second time this month, 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), in a fourth-round epic at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.

The upset wasn't the only rematch repeat yesterday. Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-1, in a rout reminiscent of their Australian Open final two months ago.

With that, Key Biscayne's two No. 1-seeded players were eliminated.

Two weeks ago, Cañas ended Federer's 41-match winning streak at Indian Wells. The dogged Argentine showed that victory was no fluke, extending points by repeatedly chasing down shots and forcing a frustrated Federer into 51 unforced errors.

"It's one of those matches I never should have lost," Federer said.

The defeat ended his bid for a third successive Key Biscayne title, while Cañas improved to 3-0 this year against top 10 players. He was ranked as high as No. 8 before serving a 15-month doping suspension, and he had to qualify for the Key Biscayne draw.

"I'm surprised because I beat two times the number one in the world. Really, I don't know what is my secret," Cañas said. "I'm just trying to enjoy the moment. For me it's like a dream."

Williams, who defeated Sharapova, 6-1, 6-2, in the Australian Open final, this time won by an even more lopsided score. She bristled when asked if she anticipated such an easy match.

"Haven't you learned that I expect the best of myself?" she said. "If I'm playing well, then anything can happen. I believe there could be a similar score if I'm playing well."

While Sharapova and Federer lost, Andy Roddick won his rematch against David Ferrer. The Spaniard was an upset winner when they played at Key Biscayne a year ago, but this time the third-seeded Roddick won, 7-5, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals.

Roddick hit one serve 150 mph, a tournament record. His opponent today will be No. 12 Andy Murray, who overcame two match points to beat Paul-Henri Mathieu, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Top-ranked Justine Henin reached the Key Biscayne semifinals for the first time by beating No. 6-seeded Nadia Petrova, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4). Henin's opponent tomorrow will be No. 9 Anna Chakvetadze, who beat No. 15 Li Na, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

-- From News Services