Swiss split as Federer advances, Hingis ambushed

By Bill Scott Jul 1, 2006, 1:18 GMT

London - Roger Federer prolonged a four-year grass-court rampage, but fellow Swiss champion Martina Hingis suddenly found her promising Wimbledon fortnight hijacked in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 loss to Ai Sugiyama Friday.

Top seed Federer ran his winning stretch on the lawns to 44 straight as one of his most feared rivals was surprisingly bundled out in the third round.

The 24-year-old Federer, bidding for his fourth consecutive trophy at the All England club, turned in a competent, if workmanlike, performance to oust Nicolas Mahut 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 for a fourth- round spot.

But Argentine fourth seed David Nalbandian was mugged by Spain's clay-courting Fernando Verdasco, who sprang a 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (11-9), 6-2 surprise on the 2002 finalist.

Nalbandian's request to plays his match early so as to finish in time to watch Argentina face Germany in the World Cup may have backfired as the South American went down heavily.

Hingis, whose return to tennis last January after a three-year retirement had resulted in Australian and French Open quarter-finals, was shut down early by the dogged Sugiyama.

The Japanese trailed 3-0 in the final set before making up the gap on the five-time Grand Slam champion, who lifted the London title in 1997 as a teenaged tyro.

'She's a tough cookie, she's a strong survivor,' said the 25-year- old Hingis.

'I knew I had to face a tough opponent today. Maybe from the previous two matches, everyone was thinking that I'm going through easy.

'But I knew it would be crucial because she is a very good player and she's been around for a long time, and I haven't played her since my comeback.'

The Swiss held a 6-2 record over Sugiyama, her lone previous loss coming a decade ago.

Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-hardenne bolted through, losing just five games apiece.

Second seed Clijsters ended the Chinese challenge of Jie Zheng 6- 3, 6-2 while Henin-Hardenne won her 14th match in a row as she beat Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-3.

'I played a good match, she's a tough player,' said Clijsters. 'She's a counter-puncher who likes fast rallies, standing on the baseline and dictating.

'I couldn't let her play her game.'

But China's growing status as a force in the women's game was underlined as Na Li shocked fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, handing the US Open winner from Russia a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 defeat.

Federer, last was beaten on grass in the Wimbledon first round in 2002, will next face Czech Tomas Berdych, who defeated Tommy Haas 2- 6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 8-6.

Mahut still earned a breakthrough of sorts this week after losing in the first round of all of his previous nine Grand Slam appearances.

Federer remained puzzled as to how he was broken while serving for the victory. 'I could have served better, it just happened,' said the perfectionist. 'Thank god I bounced back well and broke him straightaway.'

Federer called the contest 'a tricky match.'

'I had expected a big serve but not that big of a second serve. That was difficult for me. Some points were very quick and no one had many chances on serve.

'I had to wait for my chance, but I was relaxed all the way through. It was important not to get frustrated.'

In other third-round match-ups on a hot day, Max Mirnyi bundled out American eighth seed James Blake 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 while Serb Novak Djokovic took down Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 4-6, 6-2, 6- 3, 6-3.