|
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Kei Nishikori and Stan
Wawrinka all advanced to the last 16 with straight-sets wins as
did Alexander Zverev, who beat home favorite David Ferrer 6-4
6-1 in the last match of the Spaniard's career.
Ferrer, 37, announced earlier in the year he would end his
19-year career at the Madrid Open and prolonged his time on
court by a day by beating Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday, but
was easily overpowered by world number four Zverev.
He won 27 singles titles, reaching a career high ranking of
third in the world in 2013, which was also when he reached his
only Grand Slam final, losing the French Open showpiece to Nadal.
Monte Carlos Masters champion Fabio Fognini won 6-2 6-2 against
John Millman to set up an intriguing last-16 match against
Dominic Thiem, the Madrid runner-up last year who beat Nadal on
his way to winning the Barcelona Open last month.
Kei Nishikori was made to work for his last-16 place but
eventually saw off Bolivian Hugo Dellien 7-5 7-5, to set up a
match against Stan Wawrinka, who beat Argentine Guido Pella 6-3
6-4.
Nadal, a five-times champion in Madrid, is looking to win a
first claycourt title of the season before he begins his French
Open title defense after exiting the Monte Carlo Masters and
Barcelona Open at the semi-final stage.
He will face Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. in the last 16.
"Every match gives me the possibility to go a step forward, a
step forward that can help me a lot in my game and during the
season," Nadal said.
"I think that today was an important match in that way and
tomorrow it's another great opportunity to keep improving my
feelings."
(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
