The Alexander Report

London, England, United Kingdom (AHN Sports) – World No. 1 Spaniard Rafael Nadal, apparently exhausted after the French Open, where he claimed a record-tying sixth title, became the highest-seeded casualty in Day 5, while British star Andy Murray and four-time champ Andy Roddick advanced into the semis at Queen’s Club Thursday.

Nadal, who needed three sets in disposing the gritty Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the previous round, succumbed to a more dangerous French fifth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the Aegon Championships.

It marked the first defeat for the super Spaniard after reaching seven successive finals in 2011.

The reigning French Open and U.S. Open champ Nadal is set to defend his Wimbledon title later this month.

In claiming the only the second triumph in seven career tries against Nadal, French stalwart Tsonga produced 25 aces in ousting the 2008 Queen’s Club titlist.

Tsonga will next face surging British wild card James Ward, who prevailed over Adrian Mannarino in the last eight after stunning 13-seeded American and reigning champ Sam Querrey also Friday.

Second-seeded Murray breezed through the semis after scheduled opponent eighth-seeded Croat Marin Cilic pulled out, citing ankle problem.

Murray, who is now the highest seed in this Wimbledon tune event, will be gearing up for the next phase as he face a familiar foe in the hard-hitting American and former No. 1 Roddick, who blasted seventh-seeded Spanish Fernando Verdasco in 6-2, 6-2 fashion.

The former U.S. Open champion Roddick, seeded third this week, dominated Murray in the quarterfinals here at the Queen’s Club three years ago.

Saturday’s semifinal will mark the 10th time the two players will meet at the ATP level, with Murray holding a 6-3 advantage in their lifetime series.

At Copenhagen, Denmark, heavy crowd favorite Caroline Wozniacki inched closer in returning to the finals after an easy quarterfinal win, while third-seeded American Bethanie Mattek-Sands succumbed in straight sets to German qualifier Mona Barthel Friday at the Sony Ericsson Open.

World No. 1 Danish star Wozniacki, who captured the inaugural Copenhagen title last year by trouncing Czech Klara Zakopalova in the finale, blitzed past Italian campaigner Alberta Brianti, seeded eighth, 6-0, 6-1 for a place in the semifinals.

Up next for Wozniacki will be Barthel, who knocked off Mattek-Sands with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

In other quarterfinal actions, No. 4th seed Czech Lucie Safarova eliminated Zhang Shuai of China, 4-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), while Croat Petra Martic prevailed over Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

Safarova and Martic will meet in Saturday’s other semifinal.

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