Defense, interior, and national guard ministers extend Eid greetings, praise efforts of military and security personnel    Worshippers in Makkah and Madinah perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer    Saudi authorities shut down food factories and branches over suspected poisoning cases    Saudi Arabia welcomes formation of new Syrian government, expresses hope for stronger ties    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Syria forms new government with 22 ministers including one woman President Sharaa vows reform and transparency    Israeli army fires warning shots at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon    Denmark rebukes US Vice President Vance over Greenland remarks    Hamas accepts new Gaza ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt and Qatar    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Makkah and Madinah mobile data usage exceeds global average during Ramadan: CST    Elon Musk's xAI acquires X in all-stock deal    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Nadal faces del Potro, Williams sisters eye final
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 27 - 06 - 2011

LONDON: Defending champion Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon campaign runs into the imposing 1.98m (6ft 6ins) figure of dangerman Juan Martin del Potro Monday while the rejuvenated Williams sisters eye another final date.
World No. 1 Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 winner, has the toughest-looking clash of the fourth round when he tackles Argentine del Potro, the man who blew him off court in the US Open semifinals in 2009 for the loss of just six games.
But the Spaniard, fresh from his sixth French Open title, can take heart from his form so far at Wimbledon where he has yet to drop a set.
Del Potro, by contrast, had to play on all six days of the first week as heavy rain played havoc with the scheduling.
“It's always a big challenge to play against him,” said Nadal of his 24th-seeded opponent who missed most of 2010 with a wrist injury.
“He's a very, very tough opponent and one of the best players in the world.”
Del Potro insists all the pressure will be on Nadal in their eagerly-awaited fourth round clash.
“It was two years ago when I beat him in New York. I don't know if I'm still far away from that level,” said del Potro. “To beat Rafa you have to play unbelievable tennis.”
Nadal says he prefers to play against his main rival Roger Federer, who he defeated during the final of the French Open earlier this month.
“It is clear that the matches against Federer are always of great intensity. When I have a final against him, I feel something special and I imagine people feel the same,” he said in an interview published Sunday in Spanish daily ABC.
“I have always liked Federer. I think the good thing about both of us is that we have always known how to lose as well as win. He is a gentleman.”
Second seed Novak Djokovic was given a stern workout in his third round encounter by Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis Saturday where he dropped his first set of the competition.
Djokovic, beaten just once all year, faces French left-hander Michael Llodra.
“He will be tough. I need to work on my serve and return and hope it'll work out for me,” said the Serb.
Six-time champion Roger Federer faces Russia's Mikhail Youzhny who he has beaten 10 times out of 10.
Federer, chasing Pete Sampras's record of seven Wimbledon titles, won the last of his 16 majors at the 2010 Australian Open.
“I don't go through days thinking like, My God, I haven't won a Grand Slam in so long,” said the Swiss, who, like Nadal has yet to drop a set at this year's tournament.
“It turns around fast. You don't cry over stuff like that.”
Fourth seed Andy Murray tackles flamboyant French shot-maker Richard Gasquet who was two sets to love ahead of the Scotsman in their fourth round meeting here in 2008 before the Scot rallied to win.
The other last 16 ties see America's final representative Mardy Fish meet last year's runner-up Tomas Berdych while Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot faces Feliciano Lopez who put out three-time runner-up Andy Roddick.
Spain's David Ferrer takes on Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga while Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic, the first 18-year-old to make the fourth round in 21 years, goes up against former semifinalist Xavier Malisse of Belgium.
In the women's last 16, Serena and Venus Williams, with nine titles between them, are still on course for a fifth all-sister final.
Both have made light of their lengthy lay-offs to make the last 16 where Serena faces France's Marion Bartoli, the 2007 runner-up, while Venus takes on Tsvetana Pironkova who knocked her out in the quarterfinals last year.
“Don't bet against me,” was Serena's response to her chances of a fifth title despite her 11-month lay-off.
She looked impressive in defeating Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-2 Saturday, where she fired 10 aces and 32 winners.
“It's the best I've played since I came back.”
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki will aim to make the quarterfinals for the first time when she faces gritty Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.
But most eyes will be on 2004 champion Maria Sharapova who faces China's Peng Shuai.
“I haven't been past the fourth round for a few years so I am happy to get where I am. I hope to go one step further and even more,” said Sharapova.
The other last 16 ties see big-hitting Sabine Lisicki, the conqueror of French Open winner Li Na, face Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic while Austria's Tamira Paszek takes on Russia's Ksenia Pervak.
Nadia Petrova of Russia meets fourth seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka while 2010 semifinalist Petra Kvitova faces Yanina Wickmayer.


Clic here to read the story from its source.