Cilic puts out Nadal

10 October, 2009 22:10:00

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Croatia’s Marin Cilic dealt Rafael Nadal his heaviest defeat in nearly two years, earning a 6-1, 6-3 victory at the China Open to set up a final with Novak Djokovic.

The eighth seed’s surprise win in one hour, 22 minutes was the first loss in Beijing for the Spaniard, who as top seed had set a blistering pace all week.

Djokovic powered into Sunday’s final after a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sweden’s Robin Soderling, which also ensures he will claim the number three ATP ranking next week ahead of Andy Murray.

Djokovic, the second seed, improved his record over French Open finalist Soderling to 4-0 and maintained pace as the top winner on the men’s circuit with 62 victories in 2009.

Murray has not played on the ATP World Tour since the U.S. Open, missing the Asian swing due to complications from a wrist injury. “It was another great win,” said Djokovic, who is 2-5 in finals so far in 2009. “I had to take my chances. I hope I can win this title.”

Nadal’s defeat was the heaviest he has suffered since going down 6-0, 6-1 to Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the Chennai final in January, 2008.

The Spaniard stood a perfect 14-0 in the capital after winning the 2005 China Open and claiming the Olympic gold medal in 2008.

But Cilic ripped through the opening set with six aces and set up match points on two separate occasions in the eighth game of the second with untouchable serves.

The desperate Nadal saved them both, breaking to stay alive at 3-5 but Cilic broke back for the upset victory.

The loss was Nadal’s ninth of the season against 58 wins and five titles.

Nadal was playing this week for the first time since the U.S. Open due to an abdominal muscle pull.

He goes into next week’s Shanghai Masters as top seed with, Roger Federer missing the Asian swing to rest after reaching all four Grand Slam finals. Djokovic stands at 3-0 over Cilic, including a victory this season in Dubai.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga powered to a quick-fire 6-3, 6-3 win over fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils on Saturday to reach the final of the Japan Open.

Mikhail Youzhny stands between the World No. 7 and a third title of year after the Russian’s 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 victory over eighth seed Lleyton Hewitt in the first semifinal.

“I played unbelievable. It was amazing,” second seed Tsonga said in a courtside interview after winning in less than an hour. “I was able to do anything I wanted. It was great.”

Tsonga broke through in the fourth game of the first set courtesy of an athletic forehand volley, and fourth seed Monfils had no answer to his close friend’s superior firepower.

The second set followed a similar pattern, Tsonga charging the net to put away another sharp volley and go ahead 5-3, and he ended proceedings with his ninth ace after just 55 minutes.

Youzhny, who beat defending champion Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals, overpowered eighth seed Hewitt in a one-sided opening set.

He saved three break points at 4-4 in the second with two astonishing running backhands down the line and a superb volley off a fierce Hewitt return.

The results:

At Beijing (China Open): Men’s singles: Semifinals: Novak Djokovic bt Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-3; Marin Cilic bt . Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-3. Women’s singles: Semifinals: Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-3; Agnieszka Radwanska bt Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-3.

At Tokyo (Japan Open): Semifinals: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bt Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3; Mikhail Youzhny bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.