Nadal powers into quarter-finals

EUROSPORT.YAHOO.COM - Wed 13 Aug, 12:37 PM
BEIJING (AFP) - Spain's Rafael Nadal bludgeoned Igor Andreev with powerful serves and heavy groundstrokes as he muscled his way into the Olympic Games quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The incoming number one, seeking his first Olympic title, broke the Russian's resistance in an absorbing opening set before running away with it 6-4, 6-2 to set up a clash with Austria's Jurgen Melzer.
Nadal broke at 3-3 after a thrilling rally when he worked the 23rd-ranked Russian deep behind the baseline and finished with a cool backhand volley into open court.
Andreev pounded his big forehand to conjure four break points when Nadal was serving for the set. But the Spaniard, targeting Andreev's weaker backhand, produced unreturnable serves each time and then another for a one-set lead.
The setback clearly affected Andreev and he was immediately broken twice by the pumped-up Nadal as he pushed a forehand into the tramlines and was then forced into the same error by a deep, whipped backhand.
Nadal took the match with another big serve, making it four in a row against the 25-year-old including a win three weeks ago in Toronto. He will face Melzer next after the Austrian's 6-2, 6-4 win over Taiwanese giant-killer Lu Yen-Hsun.
Nadal is bidding for his eighth title this year after his fourth French Open crown and first Wimbledon win boosted his career trophy total to 30.
He is playing his first Olympic singles tournament after appearing as a little-known doubles player four years ago in Athens.
The bottom half of the draw has been eased by the exit of world number six Andy Murray, who was shocked in round one by Taiwan's Lu.
Defending champion Nicolas Massu has already been eliminated while outgoing number one Roger Federer lurks in the other half.
Nadal, Federer and Serbia's Novak Djokovic, who reached the last eight with a straight sets win over Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, are all bidding to become the first top-five player to win the men's singles title.
The Spaniard replaces Federer in the top ranking on Monday after more than three years at number two.