Federer, Nadal out of Cincinnati, Djokovic wins

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were bundled out in straight sets from the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday with both of the former tennis dominators heading to the U.S. Open without a summer title.

Novak Djokovic won his 55th match of the season as he battled Monfils 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 for three hours to the death.

Czech hitman Tomas Berdych beat a sluggish Federer for the third time in four meetings, winning despite favouring his right serving shoulder in a 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) defeat of the Swiss.

American Mardy Fish tagged U.S. open defending champion Nadal with a 6-3, 6-4 loss as the Spaniard played a day after winning in three and a half hours and also dealing with two badly burned and taped fingers, the result of a sizzling restaurant serving plate.

Nadal admitted he was hammered by Fish, winner of 14 of his last 16 matches and a Montreal finalist last week.

“Mardy played much better than me,” said the Spaniard. “I had a few chances, I was a little bit unlucky for moments. But that’s tennis and that’s sport.

“Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes you are playing well, sometimes you are playing worse. I am playing a little bit worse now than well, so I accept the loss and work hard -- the only way to come back to my best level.” Fish, whose goal is to cement himself in the Top 10 with his current seventh ranking, will play on Saturday against Andy Murray, winner of a seventh consecutive match over French tenth seed Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3.

Nadal had beaten Fish in all six of their previous meetings. The on-form 29-year-old American remains unbroken on serve this week and passed an early test by saving two break points in the opening game.

“It was a perfect day,” said Fish. “If I could choose a surface, a court and the conditions, it would be this one here.

“I had a great opportunity and I took it. That comes with putting yourself out there.” Murray will play his sixth semi-final from his last seven events in 2011.

“In a lot of the long rallies I managed to get the better of him.

I’m glad to get another win before the U.S. Open. Last week was not great and I’m glad I’m playing better,” said the Scot.

In the women’s quarters at the ATP-WTA tournament, Russians figured in three of four matches.

Second seed Vera Zvonareva defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).

Wimbledon finalist Maria Sharapova beat Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-2 for her third win over the Australian in 2011.

“I played a really great match, and did many good things which caused her trouble,” said the Russian. “I was aggressive, I didn’t give her much time to do things that she likes to do when she plays well.

“I controlled most of the points. I came in here not having the greatest last couple of tournaments, so it was really important to play a few more matches.” German ninth seed Andrea Petkovic defeated Russia’s Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-1 and will play Serb 13th seed Jelena Jankovic who won by walkover when China’s Peng Shuai withdrew with a hip problem. DPA