Tennis: Nalbandian brims with confidence

Maria Sharapova of Russia serves in her quarter-final match against compatriot Nadia Petrova. Picture / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - David Nalbandian stormed into the semifinals of the Australian Open yesterday with an emphatic 7-5, 6-0, 6-0 win over Fabrice Santoro and said he was primed to claim his first Grand Slam tennis title.

The Argentine fourth seed has now reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam events and the manner in which he ruthlessly dispatched Santoro suggested his confidence may not be misplaced.

Maria Sharapova claimed the first women's semifinal spot with a 7-6, 6-4 win over compatriot Nadia Petrova who was forced out of the semifinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland with injury.

Nalbandian reeled off 14 consecutive games from the 11th game of the first set, racing though his quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena in 101 minutes.

He claimed the last two sets in less time than it took to win the first.

"I feel that I can keep going, so I have to keep working, keep playing, keep focus," Nalbandian said.

"The goals that I chose to do, to win some Grand Slams, I'm ready to do," he said.

Seen as one of the few players capable of challenging world No 1 Roger Federer, Nalbandian will play either seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia or unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the semifinals.

The 2002 Wimbledon runner-up was one of only four men to beat Federer last year, coming back from two sets down to beat the Swiss for the biggest win of his career.

Nalbandian has reached the quarter-finals at seven of his last nine Grand Slams but said now was the time to go a step further.

"I do quarters all the time so it's not a big difference," Nalbandian said.

"But I'm in the semis now, so I'm very happy. I'll try to be in the finals and try to play all the four Grand Slam finals."

Nalbandian's form has improved gradually since a scratchy five-set win over Thai qualifier Danai Udomchoke in the first round.

The win over Santoro was his first straight sets victory of the tournament.

Santoro, playing in the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time in 54 appearances, pushed his opponent in the first set but was overwhelmed thereafter.

Nalbandian said he felt the course of the match change after he fought back from 15-40 at 4-4 in the first set to hold serve.

"It's very difficult to play against him because he doesn't have a normal style," Nalbandian said.

Wounded and down on form, Sharapova yesterday warned she would hit back at anyone who considered her an easy mark.

The 18-year-old former Wimbledon champion clambered into the semifinals with an unconvincing display when beating Petrova.

And the No 4 seed said she was prepared to fight through the pain barrier to keep her Open dream alive.

Nursing a shoulder injury and fighting a wayward serve, Sharapova somehow manufactured a pathway through the quarter-final showdown.

She admitted she would need to improve to move further in the tournament but cautioned any doubters.

"I have to step it up, that's for sure, but I'm confident I can," Sharapova said.

"I am moving a lot better and the biggest weapon I have is my toughness.

"I'll just give it all I have - I've won a lot of matches like that."

She said her troublesome shoulder, which forced her to pull out of lead-up tournaments, was not derailing her game but still required treatment.

"There can be so many excuses out there but it's not going to do me any good if I still make excuses."

Leading results


4-David Nalbandian (Argentina) bt Fabrice Santoro (France) 7-5, 6-0, 6-0

4-Maria Sharapova (Russia) bt 6-Nadia Petrova (Russia) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4

Matches today


Quarter-finals:
* 1-Roger Federer (Switz) v 5-Nikolay Davydenko (Russia)
* 21-Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) v 25-Sebastien Grosjean (France)
* 7-Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) v 3-Amelie Mauresmo (France)
* Martina Hingis (Switzerland) v 2-Kim Clijsters (Belgium)

- REUTERS, AAP