(CNN) — Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic remain on course for a final showdown at the Shanghai Masters as both cruised into the quarterfinals with convincing victories in China on Thursday.
Rafael Nadal proved too strong for his compatriot Tommy Robredo in the Chinese event.
World No. 2 Nadal, top seed in the absence of the resting Roger Federer, crushed fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-1 6-4 to set up a clash with Ivan Ljubicic on Friday.
Ljubicic progressed when French 11th seed Gael Monfils retired with a back problem while trailing the unseeded Croatian 6-2 3-0.
Nadal romped through the first set but went 2-0 down in the second before quickly breaking back, then leveling at 4-4.
He broke Robredo to love in the ninth game and then went 40-0 up on his own serve before his 14th-seeded opponent saved a match-point.
Nadal then faulted with his next serve, but his wickedly-spinning second attempt forced Robredo to hit his return high and wide.
Read more on cnn.com
Popularity: 2% [?]
Comments