Federer stunned by Stepanek
Federer stunned by Stepanek 
From correspondents in Rome, Italy
Former Australian Captain May 10, 2008
ROGER Federer was the biggest casualty as the seeds tumbled on a day of shocks at the Rome Masters.
World No.1 Federer was downed 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) by Czech Radek Stepanek while No.8 seed James Blake fell to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.
Federer was out of sorts throughout the match with his backhand particularly misfiring badly.
“You’ve seen me many times, it happens all the time,'’ he moaned afterwards.
“It’s something I’ve been trying to get rid of for 10 years but still not today.'’
Although he lamented his backhand, he said there was more than just that wrong with his game.
“I don’t know if it was just the backhand. I think I missed plenty of opportunities throughout the match,'’ he said.
“He’s difficult to play. He gives you little rhythm and he always changes his game up a lot.
“I’ve played against him in the past so it wasn’t much of a surprise. I just hoped I could have played a little better.'’
Stepanek employed an attacking strategy, coming to the net at every opportunity.
That paid off in the first-set tiebreak when he came in to the net on Federer’s serve and earned a mini-break with a stunning drop volley for 5-4. He won his next two service points to claim the first set.
In the second set he broke Federer at the first opportunity but was broken back at 4-2.
However, that was when Federer’s backhand went awry and he was broken again, leaving Stepanek to serve for the match. Federer rallied, though, and held on to force a second set tiebreak.
He went up two mini-breaks in that but simply could not find his game and eventually succumbed in that 9-7, losing to the Czech for only the second time in six encounters.
Stepanek, who was watched by his girlfriend, the teenage Czech player Nicole Vaidisova, said his attacking play had been key.
“That was very important because once you let Roger play his game he can work the ball very well, move you around the court and put pressure on you,'’ said the world No.27.
“I wanted to put pressure on him and it paid off. You try every tournament to get to Sunday but there are a lot of competitors on tour.'’
Wawrinka was the first man to reach the semi-finals as he reached a Masters Series semi-final for the first time. Blake was almost always playing catch-up, dropping his serve early in every set.
The first time he clawed back to win it on the tiebreak and in the second he twice clawed back a break to forcer a tiebreak but could not pull that one out of the bag. In the third he simply fell away in a one-sided set.
Wawrinka was delighted with his showing.
“I’m very, very happy. This is my first semi-final in a Masters Series,'’ he said.
“He’s a very tough player but I played very well and I’m very happy to be in the semi-final.
“I have a problem because I played the semi-final in Barcelona and now I had a tough match here but I will do everything to be ready tomorrow.'’
While two seeds fell, two more did make into the semi-finals with world No.3 Novak Djokovic and No.6 seed Andy Roddick progressing.
Roddick edged through an epic battle against No.14 seed Tommy Robredo of Spain, winning 6-3 4-6 7-6 and he will face Wawrinka next.
Djokovic had a short night on court in the last match as he benefited from the retirement of Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who had injured his wrist, when leading 6-1 1-0. He faces Stepanek in Sunday’s last four (EST).
Agence France-Presse