Kiefer bellows way into semis
MELBOURNE, Australia – Nicolas Kiefer advanced to the Australian Open semifinals with a grueling and contentious 6-3, 0-6, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 8-6 win over Sebastien Grosjean today.
Kiefer’s in the final four for the first time in 35 majors after playing the longest match of the tournament – 4 hours and 48 minutes. Up next for him could be top-ranked Roger Federer.
Federer, the 2004 Australian Open champion and reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open titlist, went into his night quarterfinal match against No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko on a 49-match winning streak on hard courts.
In a bizarre point at 40-30 in the 12th game, Kiefer tossed his racket over the net just after Grosjean – serving to stay in the match – hit a forehand into the net.
Grosjean immediately appealed for a hindrance ruling, but was denied by umpire Carlos Bernardes and then argued the point with Grand Slam supervisor Mike Morrissey – without success.
Kiefer already had been warned twice for using obscene language. One more code violation would have cost him a point.
Kiefer frequently questioned line calls, losing his cool as he lost the fourth-set tiebreaker and again when he was broken for a second time in the fifth set.
The 28-year-old German smashed a water bottle at the changeover, but recovered to break Grosjean again and get the match back on serve.
Grosjean had game points in the 14th game, but Kiefer earned a match point with a pinpoint lob and clinched it when the Frenchman put a backhand volley into the net.
The final set lasted 96 minutes. Grosjean was more consistent, hitting 59 winners and 55 unforced errors, while Kiefer hit 34 winners and committed 67 unforced errors.
Grosjean won more points – 169-160 – but was hesitant in the final game.
Grosjean was aiming for his fourth semifinal at a Grand Slam, and his first since 2001 at Melbourne Park.
The marathon men’s match delayed the women’s quarterfinals.
Third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo was next up on Rod Laver Arena in a quarterfinal against No. 7 Patty Schnyder.
No. 2 Kim Clijsters, the reigning U.S. Open champion, faced former No. 1 Martina Hingis in a later match.
If Clijsters beats Hingis, she’ll take the No. 1 ranking from Lindsay Davenport. Mauresmo can move atop the rankings if she wins the Australian title and Hingis beats Clijsters in the quarters.
On Tuesday, the top-seeded Davenport extended her Grand Slam title drought to six years with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 quarterfinal loss to Justine Henin-Hardenne.
“To get out there and play well, then slowly get worse as the match went on – it’s a bad feeling to have when you leave,” said the 29-year-old American.
After winning the Australian Open in 2000, Davenport slipped out of the top 10, talked about retiring, then revived her career by regaining the No. 1 ranking and making finals here and at Wimbledon last year.
But she has not added to her three major titles and will relinquish the No. 1 ranking she’d held for 15 weeks.
“I guess I’ve got the opportunity now the next few months to try and make those improvements,” she said, “give it another shot in another few months.”
It was Henin-Hardenne third win over Davenport at Melbourne Park.
Henin-Hardenne’s semifinal opponent will be 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, who ousted fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 7-6 (6), 6-4 after fending off two set points in an error-strewn tiebreaker.