Nadal too strong for Querrey
Monday, 01 Sep 2008 23:52
Rafael Nadal through to quarter-finals of US Open after beating unseeded American Sam Querrey 6-2 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-3
Rafael Nadal is through to the last eight at the US Open after overcoming an unexpected challenge from home favourite Sam Querrey.
The new world number one and top seed came through 6-2 5-7 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 against the unseeded 20-year-old, who beat Ivo Karlovic in the previous round.
Nadal struggled for form early on in the match, losing the second set to Querrey in front of a raucous New York crowd at Flushing Meadows.
But the American failed to capitalise on a number of break points in the crucial third set, with Nadal motoring on after sealing the tie-break.
The Spaniard, 22, will play another American, Mardy Fish, in the quarter-finals after he beat Gael Monfils.
Fish, who has already accounted for seeds Paul-Henri Mathieu and James Blake, stands in the way of Nadal making his first-ever semi-final appearance in New York.