12 May 2012

World number one latest victim of blue clay courts in Madrid

2:49 pm on 12 May 2012

The world tennis number one Novak Djokovic has become the latest victim of the heavily criticised blue clay courts at the Madrid Open in Spain.

Djokovic has followed world number two Rafa Nadal out of the tournament beaten 7-6 6-3 by Serbian compatriot Janko Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic and Nadal have both complained about the slippery nature of the courts and threatened not to return unless the traditional red clay courts are reinstated.

Tipsarevic will play world number three Roger Federer in the semi-finals, after Federer beat David Ferrer in straight sets 6-4 6-4.

Spain's Fernando Verdasco wasn't been able to continue his run off good form at the Madrid Tennis Masters.

A day after beating second seed and countryman Rafa Nadal, his first win over the former world number one in 14 attempts, he's crashed to a straight sets 6-1 6-2 quarterfinal loss to the Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych.

Berdych will play Argentine 10th seed Juan Martin del Potro in the semis.

In the women's competition the top seed Victoria Azarenka has beaten China's Li Na 3-6 6-3 6-3 to advance to the semi-finals.

Azarenka and will Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska who beat American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko.

Serena Williams won a battle of former world number ones beating second seed Maria Sharapova, 6-1 6-3 to also advance to the top four.