Rafa sizzles en route to Japan Open semis

Tokyo: Rafael Nadal had to dig deep after coming under heavy fire from Colombia`s Santiago Giraldo in a brutal 7-6, 6-3 quarterfinal victory at the Japan Open on Friday.

While never in serious danger of losing his Tokyo title, the top seed survived a barrage before unleashing a late salvo of his own to come through in a shade over two hours.

Giraldo, the world number 53, went down swinging, continuing with his strategy of going for broke on almost every shot in a pulsating match on centre court.

Nadal, resplendent in his new-look purple T-shirt, secured the first set tiebreak 8-6 with a heavily sliced first serve which tied Giraldo up in knots.

The Spaniard then broke early in the second, but Giraldo had clearly not read the script and threatened to climb off the canvas and strike back at 5-3 down by forcing a break point.

Nadal looked rattled but responded with a superb running forehand which nibbled the edge of the line before striking a gunslinger`s pose and letting out a yell of "Vamos!"

A packed crowd, wrapped in coats and blankets against the late afternoon chill, erupted when Nadal finished the job after his opponent went for too much and hit a wild forehand wide.

Fourth seed Mardy Fish awaits Nadal in the semifinals after the American fought back to beat 18-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic 6-7, 6-4, 6-1.

Bureau Report

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Saina storms into Japan Open semis

New Delhi: Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal entered the semifinals of Japan Open Super Series badminton tournament in Tokyo after dispatching Singapore`s Juan Gu in straight games in just half an hour on Friday.

The fourth-seeded Indian defeated Juan 21-17 21-13 to make the last-four stage, where she will take on Germany`s Juliane Schenk.

Saina was facing Juan after almost three years and the Indian dominated her world number 23 rival just the way she did in 2008.

Saina opened a massive 18-9 lead and it all seemed like a stroll in the park but Juan fought back for a while to reduce the gap to 19-17.

But the Indian was unruffled by the fightback and clinched the opening game by notching up three successive points after that.

Saina`s domination only increased in the second game and she relied on her trademark smashes to clinch the issue with ease.

The 21-year-old Hyderabadi has a good chance of reaching the finals as well, as she has a good one-on-one record against Schenk.

The two have faced each other seven times so far with Saina emerging winner on five occasions. They last played against each other in the 2010 Hong Kong Open with Saina emerging the winner.

PTI

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Japan beat India to claim bronze in Asian Women`s CT

Ordos (China): India blew away a 2-0 lead as Japan scored a controversial golden goal in extra time off a penalty stroke and snatched the bronze medal in the Asian Women`s Champions Trophy on Saturday.

India scored twice by the 28th minute but the Japanese capitalised on Indian errors in the second half to not only equalise but score a golden goal through Ai Murakami to destroy India`s dreams of going back home with at least a bronze medal.

India scored through Vandana Katariya (7th) and Rani Rampal (28th), while Japan`s scorers were Rika Komazawa (52nd), Kaori Fujio (63rd) and Ai Murakami (76th).

Japan had earned a penalty corner in the 76th minute, which was saved by an Indian defender`s stick. However, the umpire pointed for a stroke claiming that the ball had hit the defender. And even though the Indians protested, the stroke stayed.

Unlike, the matches earlier in the group stage, India looked more in control as they moved the ball with confidence.

Asunta Lakra once again kept the forwards fed with passes on both the flanks and through the middle.

India took advantage of Japan`s errors in the first half as they made inroads through the middle and used both the flanks effectively.

In the 7th minute, Vandana Katariyan`s field attempt sped past the Japanese goalkeeper, who was caught off the line for India to take the lead.

India wasted the first penalty corner as the push wasn`t effective enough. But they managed to increase the lead in the 28th minute off the second penalty corner when Rani scored.

Japan, meanwhile, were wilting in the midfield as India pushed forward. At the break, India led 2-0.

Throwing more players upfront, Japan started looking to cut the scores. India still had more of the ball but they were reluctant to release the ball fast enough and gave away counter-attacks in the midfield.

Japan earned their third penalty corner off a counter-attack and Rika Komazawa pushed for goal. With the scores at 1-2, Japan increased the pressure.

India, instead of playing the ball around the flanks, got bogged down in the middle and Japan took more of possession.

When only seven minutes were left, a hard hit from outside the circle was deflected into the Indian goal by Kaori Fujio.

At 2-2, the Indians looked deflated.

In the extra time of seven and a half minutes each, Japan had their fourth penalty corner in the 76th minute and the shot hit an Indian defender`s stick but the umpire Liu Xiaoying pointed for a stroke claiming that the ball had hit the defender.

Interestingly, the Japanese players were running to the corner for a long corner when the umpire blew for a stroke against India.

The Indian players protested and even after both the umpires consulted, the stroke stayed.

Yogita Bali, the Indian goalkeeper went the right way but Ai Murakami`s push had enough power to beat the keeper.

Indian coach CR Kumar was disappointed but said that the umpiring was poor in the match.

"I cannot put everything on umpiring. We need to improve upon our fitness and play more high-intensity matches to be able to compete at the top level," he said.

PTI

First Published: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 15:52

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