Favourites progress in Madrid

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:28

World number one Rafael Nadal and sixth-seeded American Andy Roddick advanced without having to hit a ball, with their respective opponents – Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber and 10th-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko – both withdrawing due to leg injuries.

Next up for top seed Nadal will be a last-eight clash with either seventh-seeded Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco or Argentinian wild card Juan Monaco on Friday.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer, seeded two, saw off 14th-seeded American James Blake 6-2 6-4 to claim his place in the last eight where he will go head to head with Roddick.

Fourth-seeded Briton Andy Murray also lost only six games en route to a 7-5 6-1 triumph against Spanish 16th seed Tommy Robredo.

The Scot will next play Juan Martin del Potro, the fifth seed from Argentina, who came from a set down to defeat 11th-seeded Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Novak Djokovic, now relegated to fourth in the world by Murray but seeded three here, saw off Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-4 6-4 to book a quarter-final meeting with either Croatian wild card Ivan Ljubicic or eighth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon.

In the women’s event, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia was a comfortable third-round winner, the fourth seed dismissing Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina 6-2 6-2.

Vesnina’s compatriot Anna Chakvetadze was also ousted, Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko prevailing 6-0 2-6 6-3.

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