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TENNIS

Söderling crashes out in Malaysia Open upset

Swedish world number five Robin Söderling was dumped out of the Malaysian Open by Kazakstan's Audrey Golubev on Friday.

Söderling crashes out in Malaysia Open upset

French Open finalist Robin Söderling had no answer for Golubev as the Swede played his 10th quarter-final of the season but came up a 6-3, 6-2 loser to the number 41, winner of the Hamburg clay title in July.

Golubev was not the only player to upset the Malayisan Open’s formbook with Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer beating Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdychin a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 turnaround lasting two and a half hours, for the right to face Golubev in an unheralded semi-final.

Söderling, who lost a Malaysian Open semi-final last year, looked like he might be able to lift the title this time around after the elimination of main rival and defending champion Nikolay Davydenko.

But Golubev changed that script emphatically in 71 minutes, breaking the Scandinavian favourite four times while never losing his own serve.

“He played really well,” said Söderling. “I’ve played well for a few weeks now but I was not at my best.”

“I wish I could have played better. But I have to forget this match and concentrate on the big events in Beijing and Shanghai coming up.”

Russians Igor Andreev and Mikhail Youzhny will face each other in the other semi-final after both battled through three sets in their quarter-final matches.

Qualifier Andreev, who was once ranked in the ATP Top 20, ended the dream run of Canadian teenager Milos Raonic 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

US Open semi-finalist Youzhny continued his own run of form to defeat sixth-seeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-1.

Youzhny has won two of his three matches against his 102-ranked compatriot, with their last meeting in January 2009 in Doha.

Youzhny earned his 37th victory of the season in two hours 40 minutes of struggle against Baghdatis, with the Russian breaking serve seven times.

Andreev put an end to a run in which Raonic won his first two career victories on the ATP.

“It was a very tough match,” said Andreev. “He’s got a lot of potential. I’m happy with how I played today, I was able to use my chances and earn the win.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played a semi-final (February 14th on clay in Brazil). It’s great to play well again and win some matches.

“It gives you confidence and a great feeling.”

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ROGER FEDERER

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?

Roger Federer is talking optimistically about returning to his "highest level" after knee surgery, but does tennis have to start adjusting to a future without the Swiss star?

Is this the end of the road for Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer?
Is it the end of the line for Roger? Photo: Martin BUREAU / AFP

The 20-time Grand Slam winner announced on Wednesday that he would be sidelined until 2021 after his second operation in a matter of months.

Federer remains upbeat, tweeting: “I plan to take the necessary time to be 100 percent ready to play at my highest level.”

In some ways 2020 is a good season to miss after the coronavirus ravaged the tennis schedule. Writing Federer off in the past has proved dangerous.

He returned from a six-month injury lay-off to claim the Australian Open in 2017, winning his eighth Wimbledon crown later that year.

But he will be 40 in 2021 and is now heading into uncharted territory.

Despite his groaning trophy cabinet, there are two factors that will motivate Federer to keep going — the risk of losing his grip on the men's Grand Slam title record and a missing Olympics singles gold medal.

Rafael Nadal has 19 majors, just one shy of Federer's mark and Djokovic has 17.

Spain's Nadal will be fancied to draw level with Federer at the French Open, rescheduled for September, while few would bet against Djokovic winning in New York weeks earlier.

In April, Federer said he was “devastated” when Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. Last year he fell agonisingly short at the All England Club, failing to convert two championship points on his own serve against Djokovic.

The Wimbledon grass probably remains his best chance of adding to his Grand Slam collection — he has not won the US Open since 2008 and his only title at Roland Garros came in 2009.

Even though Federer has slipped from the very pinnacle of the game, he is still a major threat to Nadal and Djokovic.

'Golden' ambitions

Last year, the world number four had a 53-10 win-loss record and he reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January in his only tournament this year.

Federer, who is still six ATP titles short of Jimmy Connors' all-time record of 109, has one glaring omission from his CV — the Olympic title.

The Swiss won doubles gold in Beijing in 2008 with compatriot Stan Wawrinka but lost in the singles final to Andy Murray in London four years later.

The postponed Tokyo Games will almost certainly be Federer's last opportunity to complete a career “golden” Grand Slam — he will turn 40 on the day of the closing ceremony next year.

Tennis will feel the loss of the elegant Federer keenly when he walks off the court for the last time.

Djokovic and Nadal have been the dominant forces in recent years but the Swiss remains the biggest draw and last month topped Forbes' list of the world's highest-earning athletes.

His last appearance on court was in front of nearly 52,000 fans — touted by organisers as a world record for tennis — at a charity match against Nadal in Cape Town in February.

Federer is nearly always the crowd favourite wherever he plays and has proved a perfect ambassador for the sport since he won his first Grand Slam title in 2003.

He certainly expects to be back and competitive next year.

“I will be missing my fans and the tour dearly but I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season,” he tweeted.

The avalanche of support from his adoring fans showed they would miss him too, but they will have to get used to a time when he is gone for good.

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