Sat Oct 18 14:06:00 2008

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Nadal, Federer beaten in Madrid semis; Nadal takes year-end No. 1

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Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Andy Murray handed Rafael Nadal the year-end No. 1 ranking with a victory over Roger Federer, then Nadal bowed out in stunning fashion to unseeded Gilles Simon in wild semifinal action at the Madrid Masters.

Murray took a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 decision to reach the final at the eighth of nine Master Series events this year. There, he will meet the lanky, even-tempered Simon, who downed the home favorite and reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion Nadal in a three-hour, 22-minute affair, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6).

Murray's victory gave the top-seeded Nadal the year-end No. 1 honor before he stepped foot onto the indoor surface at Madrid Arena. The 13-time major champion Federer had held the honor for four straight seasons and became the all-time prize money leader on the ATP Tour earlier in this tournament.

Nadal looked dominant early, but uncomfortable on the quick indoor hardcourts as the match wore into its second and then third hour.

In the third set, Simon broke an errant Nadal, who misfired on a pair of backhands late in the game to give the Frenchman a 6-5 lead in the deciding set. However, Simon tightened up and missed a backhand down the line wide and an approach shot deep before dumping a forehand into the net to give back the break for 6-6.

Nadal won a marathon first point in the tiebreak, but Simon used a strong second serve to the middle and a quick high volley to even it. However, Nadal's strong forehand had Simon well behind the baseline on the next point, resulting in a forehand that clipped the top of the tape and stayed on the Frenchman's side for 2-1.

The Spanish star clubbed an overhead slam for the 3-1 lead, but pulled a forehand one point later to cut the advantage to 3-2 and another pushed forehand evened the tiebreak.

Simon set up a powerful forehand down the line for a 4-3 edge and took a 5-3 lead before Nadal's service winner out wide to the deuce court. Serving for the match, Simon dumped one into the net one point later to square the tiebreak.

The quick surface was Nadal's downfall on an unforced error, giving Simon a 6-5 lead, but he recovered with a deep forehand to again tie it.

Simon took a 7-6 lead on Nadal's serve then watched as a Nadal passing shot was called in on the baseline. An official review showed the ball sailed just long, and Simon raised his hands in exasperated triumph.

In the first semifinal, Murray weathered the storm of Federer, who came into the semifinal bout on an 11-match winning streak and with good memories at Madrid (runner-up in 2007 and champion one year earlier). The Swiss superstar had also beaten Murray in the U.S. Open final last month.

The fourth-seeded Scot looked a beaten man in a first set, recording just a 59 percent first-serve percentage and failing on his lone break opportunity.

The second set was much different, as Murray won all 15 points on a successful first serve and broke Federer for 3-1 on a deft volley off a hard change into the net. Federer didn't even get a break chance in the set, forcing a deciding third set for a trip to the final.

The third set saw a different game plan for the normally cautious Murray, who became the aggressor and drilled more than half his winners and eight of his 14 aces in the final set.

For his part, Federer played fantastic defense, staving off six break points in the set. However, Murray had seven chances, and finally converted after failing at three break chances in the third game and a pair more in the 11th.