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Federer tumbles out of Rome

Czech Radek Stepanek stunned world number one Roger Federer 7-6 (5) 7-6 (8) to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters.

The 26-year-old Swiss joined Rafael Nadal in suffering a premature exit from the Italian capital.

The defending champion Nadal fell at the first hurdle to Spanish compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero after suffering a blister in their second-round match earlier in the week.

Earlier on Friday Federer's unseeded compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka won an entertaining tussle with American James Blake 6-7 7-6 6-1.

Wawrinka made a confident start, breaking Blake in the third game. But the American eighth seed held his nerve, broke back in the eighth game and took the first set in a tiebreak.

Blake showed more resilience in the second set, saving four set points when 5-3 down and two more in the tiebreak before Wawrinka levelled the score with a sweet backhand winner down the line.

The Swiss, who had treatment on back and leg problems at the end of the second set, used the momentum from the tiebreak win to romp home in the decider.

Wawrinka, who had beaten former world number ones Ferrero and Marat Safin and Britain's Andy Murray to reach this stage, will meet the winner of the match between top American Andy Roddick and Spain's Tommy Robredo.

Safina sends Serena crashing out

Dinara Safina continued her magnificent form by ending Serena Williams' 17-match unbeaten run at the German Open.

The Russian, who beat world number one Justine Henin on Thursday, saw off Williams 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-5) to secure a semi-final against Victoria Azarenka.

After dropping the first set, Safina dominated the second and edged the decider after letting a lead slip.

In Friday's other quarter-finals, Elena Dementieva plays Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic takes on Agnes Szavay.

Unseeded Belarussian teenager Azarenka of earlier upset 15th seed Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.

Wawrinka ousts eighth tennis seed Blake

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka was the first man to reach the Rome Masters semi-finals here on Thursday after he upset eighth seed James Blake 6-7, 7-6, 6-1.

This is the first time that Wawrinka has reached a Masters Series semi-final and is his second semi in a row following his exploits in Barcelona last week.

The American had started well and battled hard to stay in the match despite frequently dropping his serve but he crumbled at the end in the heat of the Italian capital.

Blake was broken early on in the first set but he hung in there and broke back for 4-4 before forcing a tie-break.

He got the mini-break in that and served for the set at 6-5, securing it when Wawrinka drifted a forehand wide at the end of a lengthy rally.

But the second set followed a similar pattern as the American dropped his first service game before breaking back immediately.

He dropped it again for 5-3, though, as he went long with a backhand but Blake's battling qualities saw him dig in to save four set points on the Wawrinka serve before breaking back for the third time in the match with a forehand winner down the line.

That prompted some typically American fist pumping and a bellowed 'come on!'

Wawrinka had a time out to get some treatment on his back but that did not seem to hamper him as the match went to a second tie-break.

In the tie-break, though, Blake again gave up an early mini-break and this time Wawrinka held on, sealing the set with a backhand winner.

Once again the American was broken at the beginning of the third set only this time he wilted rather than rising to the occasion and was broken again for 4-1 as he struggled to deal with the Swiss's deep forehands.

The final two games were a wash out as Blake's head dropped and his resistance ended with a feeble backhand into the net.

Henin suffers shock Berlin defeat

World number one Justine Henin was sent crashing out of the German Open by Russia's Dinara Safina on Thursday.

The Belgian, playing only her second match following a month off with a knee injury, went down 5-7 6-3 6-1.

It was Henin's first defeat on clay since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Berlin semi-finals last year.

There was another shock as third seed Kuznetsova lost 1-6 6-2 6-2 to Alona Bondarenko, but Serena Williams beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-1.

Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic are also in action later on Thursday.

Henin's defeat means she misses out on a clash with Williams in the last eight.

A three-times winner in Berlin and four-times French Open champion, Henin had been looking to kick-start her season on her favorite surface ahead of defending her Roland Garros title later this month.

But despite having won all five previous meetings against Safina, the top seed struggled desperately on serve and was broken eight times.

"It was pretty difficult out there and very frustrating, I am very disappointed," said Henin.
           
"I struggled during the whole match, I didn't have the intensity, she just played better then me."

She added: "This week was important, not only in terms of the French Open, but also in terms of getting some confidence back.

"I will take a few days off, focus on Rome and we will see what happens now in the next few weeks."

Djokovic struggles into quarters

World number three Novak Djokovic struggled into the last eight of the Rome Masters with a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win over Igor Andreev in round three.

The Serbian looked to be struggling physically when pegged back to one set all but found his form in the decider.

He faces Nicolas Almagro next, after 12th seed Fernando Gonzalez pulled out of their match with a leg injury.

Djokovic is on course for a semi-final with world number one Roger Federer, who beat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

Djokovic suffered with illness at Monte Carlo two weeks ago and looked uncomfortable early on against Andreev.

"I'm very relieved and satisfied to get through this one," he said. "He's one of the most difficult players to beat on this surface.

"I was trying to be aggressive and I think the patience was very crucial.

"I didn't know what to expect from my physical condition and I'm very happy.

"I'm a little bit tired but not as much in the last few weeks and recent matches."

Federer was made to work hard by his Croatian opponent, facing two break points in only his second service game.

The Swiss star, who next meets Radek Stepanek, forced five break points in game eight but big serving from Karlovic denied him then and at 6-5 when he had set-point.

Karlovic finally cracked in the tie-break when Federer produced a stunning forehand return pass and Karlovic netted a backhand.

Federer gained an early break at 2-2 in the second, hitting a forehand winner on the line, and broke again in the final game to seal his sixth victory in as many victories over Karlovic.

"It's difficult to judge against him. Ivo has an unbelievable serve, probably the best we have in the game," Federer said.

"And he comes to the net too, so there's always a lot of pressure."

Andy Roddick and Nikolay Davydenko are in action in the other half of the draw, which is without Rafael Nadal following the defending champion's surprise loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday.

Murray slumps to defeat in Rome

British number one Andy Murray lost 6-2 7-6 to Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of the Rome Masters.

With the French Open looming, the 20-year-old Scot struggled again on the clay and was broken twice in the first set but rallied in the second.

However, after Murray took a 4-2 second-set lead Wawrinka broke back to take the match to a tie break, which he won 7-5 to seal a straight-sets win.

Wawrinka will now meet Juan Carlos Ferrero, who shocked Rafael Nadal.

Murray was desperate to find some form on clay ahead of the season's second Grand Slam but Wawrinka was stronger and more measured in Rome.

The Swiss world number 24 took an early advantage, breaking Murray for a 3-1 lead in the opening set.

Murray's situation was not helped as he appeared to hurt his left leg sliding for the ball and he called for the trainer.
           
The Scot complained about a tightness in his legs and after receiving treatment he conceded a second break with some wild groundstrokes.

Just as he slumped in the opener, Murray immediately seized the momentum in the second, immediately breaking Wawrinka and taking a 2-0 lead.

His renewed resolve and focus saw him fend off break points in the fourth game but when Wawrinka pushed him at 4-3, the Briton lofted his drop-shot wide to surrender the break.

The Swiss almost sealed victory on Murray's next service game but the Scot fought back from 0-40 with some brilliant play to level at 5-5.

A tense set between the two off-court friends was settled by a tie-break and Murray's inability to deliver a strong first serve was telling.

The Scot failed to lay down an ace throughout the entire match and when he needed a big serve most he could not find one and was forced to try to out-play Wawrinka with his groundstrokes.

Murray saved another match point at 6-5 but hit long at the crucial moment to hand the Swiss the match; and a third-round tie with Ferrero, who vanquished second seed Nadal.