Britain’s Edmund stuns Djokovic in Madrid, Nadal marches on

MADRID (Reuters): Britain’s Kyle Edmund enjoyed one of the biggest triumphs of his career by defeating former world number one Novak Djokovic 6-3 2-6 6-3 in the second round of the Madrid Open on Wednesday.

Djokovic, a two-time champion in the Spanish capital, has not won a deciding set this year and, having previously suffered final set losses to Martin Klizan, Dominic Thiem and Taro Daniel, the 30-year-old Serb’s disappointing run continued.

Edmund claimed the decisive break in the eighth game of the decider before coolly closing out his service game to love for his 14th match win of the year.

“It was a great experience to beat Novak, he is a legend of the game,” Edmund told Sky Sports. “It’s time to try and beat these guys and I was pleased how I managed my game.”

The world number 22 will face eighth-seeded Belgian David Goffin in the third round.

Djokovic, who has been hampered by a long-term elbow injury, has not reached the last eight of a tournament since last year’s Wimbledon.

He has struggled on his return to clay ahead of the French Open, having suffered early exits in Monte Carlo and Barcelona last month.

“Look, there are obvious things that are not working well for me,” the 12-times grand slam champion said.

“But I have to keep working on them and pray that — and hope that my game will get stronger, get better as definitely as the matches... go the distance.”

World number one RafaNadal recorded his 20th straight win on clay as he began his quest for a sixth title in Madrid, defeating Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3 6-1.

Nadal, who received a bye in the opening round, fired 17 winners and went on to lose just one of 13 service points in the second set to seal victory.

The 31-year-old Spaniard has now won 48 consecutive sets on the surface, two sets shy of breaking American John McEnroe’s record of 49 straight sets on a single surface in 1984.

World number seven Dominic Thiem and sixth-seed Kevin Anderson joined Nadal and Edmund in the last-16 but home favourite Feliciano Lopez, who will become tournament director next year, was beaten by Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

Halep’s Madrid hat-trick dream over, Sharapova out

Madrid (Reuters): World number one Simona Halep’s Madrid Open hat-trick hopes bit the dust as she was overpowered 6-4 6-3 in the quarterfinal by inspired Czech Karolina Pliskova yesterday.

Halep, who has won the tournament for the last two years, had looked imperious on her way to the last eight, dropping only nine games in three matches including Wednesday’s win against Pliskova’s twin sister, Kristyna.

But, her winning streak in the Spanish capital ended at 15 matches as her 26-year-old opponent continued her impressive form on the red clay, having won the Stuttgart title last month.

It was sixth seed Pliskova’s first clay court victory over Halep, and it was the kind of authoritative performance that will turn a few heads as the French Open looms later this month.

Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens continued her impressive week as she backed up a third-round win over world number two Caroline Wozniacki to beat Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals. Unseeded Bertens, who reached the French Open semis two years ago, recovered from losing the first set to win 4-6 6-2 6-3 and set up a semi-final with Caroline Garcia, who eased past local hopeful Carla Suarez Navarro. Bertens’ win over Wozniacki meant Halep will stay as world number one for at least another week, but the Romanian had no answer to Pliskova on centre court.