MADRID (AP) Top-ranked Novak Djokovic joined Rafael Nadal in declaring he won't play again on the new blue-clay court at the Madrid Open after losing 7-6 (2), 6-3 to Janko Tipsarevic in an all-Serb quarterfinal on Friday.
Tipsarevic won for the second time in five matches against Djokovic, who last lost at this stage in November at the Paris Masters.
I want to forget this week as soon as possible and move on to the real clay courts,'' Djokovic said.Here you can't predict the ball bounce or movement.They can do whatever they want, but I won't be here next year if this clay stays.''
Nadal lost to Fernando Verdasco on Thursday. After his loss, Nadal said he wouldn't return to the tournament unless it reverts to red clay. Djokovic described the new surface as slippery.
Tipsarevic had to save four break chances to force the first-set tiebreaker that he dominated. The seventh-seeded Tipsarevic broke Djokovic to go ahead in the second set and finished off the upset after Djokovic hit two late aces to save three match points.
Tipsarevic advanced to a semifinal with either third-seed Roger Federer or fifth-seed David Ferrer.
On the women's side, Serena Williams cruised past No. 2 Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals along with top-ranked Victoria Azarenka. She rallied past French Open winner Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Also, Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro used 10 aces to beat Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4 and reach the semifinal with Tomas Berdych.
The six-seeded Berdych defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-2. The Spaniard made 24 unforced errors and showed little of the flare on display Thursday when he ousted Nadal.
Williams opened strong, hitting six aces and earning two early breaks to take the first set.
Sharapova broke at love to even the score at 2-2 in the second set, but she quickly squandered her break with a costly sixth double-fault to fall behind for good. Williams sealed her seventh straight win over Sharapova with an emphatic slam.
Playing Maria you have to be really ready because she does everything really well,'' Williams said.I felt relaxed out there, and when I play relaxed, I play better.''
Williams, who improved to 11-0 on clay this year, will face Czech Lucie Hradecka after she upset U.S. Open champion and fifth-seeded Sam Stosur 7-6 (8), 7-6 (6).
Azarenka, who has won four titles this season, used her powerful groundstrokes to take a 4-0 lead in the second set before holding off Li's late charge.
Azarenka agreed with Nadal and Djokovic in their criticism of the new surface.
You feel unstable sometimes, actually, a lot of times,'' she said.But right now there is no point on talking about it. After the tournament, all the players can get together and discuss it.''
The Belarusian will face Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat American Varvara Lepchenko 6-4, 6-4.