Nadal nudges Novak aside for virgin quarters

Flushing Meadows, Sept 05: French Open champion Rafael Nadal reached the U.S. Open quarter-finals for the first time by sweeping past Czech Jiri Novak 6-1 7-6 6-4 on Monday. The 20-year-old Nadal, who lost in the third round last year, blasted 46 winners past Novak, more than double the number registered by 31-year-old Czech in the two hour 10-minute victory in windy conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I am playing a good tournament," said Nadal, who ripped three successive winners to close out the second-set tiebreaker 7-3. "It is important for me to play good here.

It was tough, playing badly here, especially last year."

Nadal, the last left hander remaining in the men's draw, stayed on course for a possible showdown in the final with world number one Roger Federer.

The Swiss beat Nadal in the Wimbledon final, while the world number two had defeated Federer in the Roland Garros climax.

Bureau Report