Nadal through to quarter-finals
Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:22
The world number one was staring defeat in the face when Argentinian Nalbandian served for the match at a set and 5-4 up. But the Spaniard showed plenty of resolve to break back to take it to a tie-break which he won.
Nalbandian provided little resistance in the decider as Nadal strolled through it to clinch a 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-0 victory and a last eight meeting with Juan Martin Del Potro.
Roger Federer was also made to sweat by Fernando Gonzalez before booking his place in the quarters. The 13-time grand slam champion dropped the second set – the first he has lost in the tournament – but still triumphed 6-3 5-7 6-2.
The Swiss second seed will take on Fernando Verdasco in the next round after the 10th-seeded Spaniard survived a second-set scare to claim a 6-4 3-6 6-1 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Andy Murray earlier progressed against 15th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo, who was forced to retire with a wrist injury. The Scot, seeded four, took the first set 6-2 and was 3-0 up in the second when Robredo threw in the towel.
Next up for Murray is veteran Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who beat 22nd seed Igor Andreev 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/4).
On a day of few shocks, there were also wins for sixth seed Del Potro, third seed Novak Djokovic and seventh seed Andy Roddick. Del Potro beat American wild card John Isner 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/3) in a match which featured no breaks of serve, defending champion Djokovic also required two tie-breaks to beat Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (8/6) and Roddick edged out 12th-seeded David Ferrer 7-6 (7/5) 3-6 6-3.
Dinara Safina’s hopes of reaching the world number one spot were put on hold after the Russian lost in three sets to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the quarter-finals of the women’s event. Safina would have overtaken Serena Williams at the top of the rankings if she had reached the final but produced a below-par display against the eighth seed.
Azarenka will now meet fourth seed Vera Zvonareva after the Russian beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-2.
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