Thursday, August 12, 2010

Nadal & Federer reach last eight

Rafael Nadal
Nadal is looking to win his third title in Canada

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer enjoyed straight-sets victories to ensure the top four seeds reached the Rogers Cup quarter-finals in Toronto.

World number three Federer overcame France's Michael Llodra 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to set up a rematch with his conqueror at Wimbledon, Tomas Berdych.

And top seed Nadal dismissed big-serving South African Kevin Anderson 6-2 7-6 (8-6) in the night session.

Second seed Novak Djokovic and fourth seed Andy Murray also made it through.

Djokovic, who had struggled to cope in the heat during his previous match, ha an easier time with a later start as he beat Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3 6-4.

Murray, the defending champion, beat France's Gael Monfils 6-2 0-6 6-3 as the Briton bids to at least reach the final - the minimum requirement if he is to hold on to his world ranking of four.

606: DEBATE

Nadal's win over Anderson was his 33rd victory in the last 34 matches dating back to April, with the Spaniard looking to claim a first US Open title next month.

"I played well in the first set and thought I was in control in the second at 4-2," he said.

"But he broke me and I had to play a good tie-breaker to win. To make the quarter-finals of a big event like this is important."

Czech Berdych, who ousted Federer in four sets in the quarter-finals at SW19, advanced 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 against Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

"It will bring back memories, some not so nice," said Federer of the rematch. "Hopefully I can get him back."

Federer will also be bidding to avenge a fourth-round defeat at the hands of Berdych at Miami's Sony Ericsson Open in March.

"I definitely have to go back and think what didn't go so well against Berdych and what did work well," added Federer.

Playing only his second match since that shock Wimbledon exit six weeks ago, the Swiss found himself two games to love down early on in the hardcourt encounter.

"I knew it would be a tough match, he got off to a wonderful start," admitted Federer. "It was hard for me.

TORONTO QUARTER-FINALS
Nadal v Kohlschreiber
Murray v Nalbandian
Berdych v Federer
Chardy v Djokovic

"You don't get many guys like him. But I like playing against the old style serve-and-volley, always keeping you on the back foot, always under pressure."

Playing under the watchful eye of Paul Annacone, his coach of two weeks, Federer broke back in the seventh game before dominating the tie-break to take the lead.

And after breaking Llodra to go 3-1 up in the second, it was plain sailing for the former world number one who, despite a brief lapse when Llodra earned his second break for 5-2, closed out the match with relative ease.

Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko was dumped out 3-6 2-6 by Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany ousted Taiwanese Lu Yen-Hsun 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-0 to set up a match with Nadal.

Argentine David Nalbandian, who won the Legg Mason Classic in Washington on Sunday, extended his winning streak to 11 matches with a 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory over fifth seed Swede Robin Soderling and will face Murray next.

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