Second Seed Rafael Nadal Advances at US Open

Second Seed Rafael Nadal Advances at US Open
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03 September 2007 (VOA Sports) -- Men's second seed Rafael Nadal of Spain has reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Nadal posted 7-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory Sunday against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

The Spaniard will next play 15th-seeded compatriot David Ferrer, who was stretched to five sets before advancing past David Nalbandian of Argentina, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5.

Three other matches also ended as five-set marathons. Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, seeded 20th, upended 12th-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, 6-4, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated American Robby Ginepri, 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Spaniard Carlos Moya survived Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.

Juan Monaco of Argentina had an easier win over compatriot Agustin Calleri, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4.

The day's biggest surprise in men's singles action came in the final match when 88th ranked Ernests Gulbis of Latvia easily ousted eighth seeded Tommy Robredo or Spain 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

Third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia also breezed into the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro.

Among the women, American Serena Williams has reached the quarterfinal round. Eighth-seeded Serena Williams posted a relatively easy 6-3, 6-4 victory over 10th-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.

After Serena Williams won, her older sister Venus Williams also advanced. Twelfth-seeded Venus Williams upset number-five Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, 6-4, 6-2. Top-seeded Justine Henin of Belgium swept past Russian Dinara Safina, 6-0, 6-2.

And third seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia needed three sets to get by 19th seeded Sybille Bammer of Germany 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

(Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters)

Source: VOANews.com