Federer loses in Rome Masters quarters

Sports Digest

May 10, 2008

What was once almost unthinkable in tennis now happens more and more often: Roger Federer loses.

The latest defeat came yesterday, a 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) decision to 27th-ranked Radek Stepanek in the ATP Rome Masters quarterfinals.

This was top-ranked Federer's sixth loss of the year. "Usually when I have a lead I don't let it go, so it's quite disappointing," he said.

In the semifinals, Stepanek will face Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, who advanced when Nicolas Almagro retired.

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The Rome Masters is a clay-court tuneup for the French Open.

In the other half of the draw, No. 6 seed Andy Roddick eliminated No. 14 Tommy Robredo, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4). His semifinal opponent will be Stanislas Wawrinka, who rallied past No. 8 seed James Blake, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-1.

• More tennis // Serena Williams' 17-match winning streak ended with a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) loss to 17th-ranked Dinara Safina in the WTA German Open quarterfinals in Berlin. ... Top-ranked Justine Henin has withdrawn from next week's Italian Open, citing fatigue.

• Et cetera // Florida junior safety Jamar Hornsby, 21, was kicked off the team after turning himself in on charges that he used the gas credit card of a woman who was killed along with another player in a motorcycle accident. ... The Green Bay Packers released Koren Robinson, the latest setback for the veteran wide receiver trying to resurrect his career after serving an NFL suspension and jail time.

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Federer loses in Rome Masters quarters

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