Easy wins for Nadal, Williams in Madrid Open

Madrid: Serena Williams swept into the last 16 with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory over China`s Peng Shuai, while Rafael Nadal began defence of his crown with a crushing 6-1, 6-0 win over Argentina`s Juan Monaco in Madrid Tennis Open Wednesday.

Williams needed just over one hour and four minutes and never looked in trouble with another display of powerful tennis on a court where she has looked very much at home in recent years, Xinhua reported. Peng Shuai cannot be accused of giving up, but was just unable to compete with Williams` powerful hitting. Number 4 seed Simona Helep defeated Spain`s Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 6-4 and number 14 seed Carla Suarez Navarro also progressed into the last 16 with a 6-2, 6-4 straight set win over America`s Alison Riske. Italy`s Roberta Vinci produced a minor shock as she beat number 13 seed Carolina Wozniaki 6-3, 6-3 in a comfortable straight sets win. Wednesday was all about Rafael Nadal in the men`s competition as the world number one handed a crushing defeat to Argentina`s Juan Monaco. Fans have had to wait a long time to see Nadal and he was at his best after recent defeats in Monte Carlo and Barcelona with a win that needed just one hour and nine minutes. Number 6 seed Tomas Berdych showed he was in fine form as he blasted past South African, Kevin Anderson, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 10 minutes. Number 9 seed John Isner also progressed thanks to 6-7 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 victory over Marinko Matosevic in a game lasting 2 hours and 38 minutes and the number 12 seed Grigor Dimitrov is also into the third round on the back of a tense 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9- 7) win against Mariol Copil. Lucasz Kubot and Alexandr Dolgopolov have also progressed into the third round.