Nadal, Clisters, Venus Triumph At US Open
September 5, 2010 at 4:26 PM by AHN · Leave a Comment
NY, NY, United States (AHN) – World No. 1 Rafael Nadal is on track in reaching his first U.S. Open final as he led the Spanish charge into the quarterfinals with a sweep of Gilles Simon in straight sets Sunday in the third round of the New York event.
The eight-major titlist Nadal, who is vying to win a U.S. Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, demolished his French foe in 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 fashion to advance into the fourth round.
The top-seed Nadal highlighted Spanish players who won in the top half of the draw Sunday.
Nadal will next play fellow Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez (No. 23), who advanced after Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukaraine retired with a score at 6-3, 4-0.
Spanish eight-seed Fernando Verdasco also booked a fourth-round slot following a four-set conquest of Argentina’s David Nalbandian (No. 31), while No. 10th seed Spaniard dropped compatriot Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 6-2.
Stanislas Wawrinka, 25th seed, also secured a fourth-round berth after stunning British fourth-seed Andy Murray, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 6-3.
Wawrinka could meet in the next round No. 20th seed American Sam Querrey, who matched his best outing at a Grand Slam tournament by toppling Spanish 14th seed Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, 18th-seeded American John Isner is slated to face Russian Mikhail Youzhny in a later match Sunday.
On the women’s draw, former No. 1 Kim Clijsters and No. 3-seed Venus Williams reached the quarterfinals after disposing of their respective assignments Sunday.
The second-seeded reigning champion Clijsters dismissed former top-ranked Ana Ivanovic in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, to advance to her fourth straight quarterfinal here.
Clijsters, who became the first mother to win a Grand Slam title in 29 years after defeating Caroline Wozniacki in last year’s finale here, will next be tested by either fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur or 12th- seeded Russian Elena Dementieva.
Stosur and Dementieva square off later Sunday.
Former top-ranked American star Williams also advanced after prevailing over a gutsy Shahar Peer (No. 16), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.
Williams, the last woman to win back-to-back US Open titles when she triumphed here in 2000 and 2001, will be clashing with sixth-seeded Francesca Schiavone, the French Open champion, for a semi-final spot.
Schiavone outclassed 20th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-3, 6-0.
