The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Nadal books last eight place at US Open for first time in four years
TENNIS: World No 1 races through to last eight by crushing Dolgopolov
Rafael Nadal hit form at the US Open to stroll into the quarter-finals for the first time in four years.
The world No 1 had found the going tough at Flushing Meadows but the hottest day of the tournament so far saw Nadal spark into life.
It took him just an hour and 41 minutes to defeat Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-2 6-4 6-1 and set up a lasteight meeting with teenager Andrey Rublev, who stunned ninth seed David Goffin yesterday.
The last time Nadal reached this stage in New York, he went on to win his second title.
“I think I played a solid match,” said the 31-year-old. “I played with not many mistakes. I know Dolgopolov is a player who can play amazing shots but sometimes he can be a little bit unpredictable
“I tried to be very focused with my serve and to wait for the opportunities on the return. I’m in the quarter-finals in New York, that’s a positive result for me and I’m looking forward to trying to be playing better.”
Rublev knocked out his second top-10 seed but was helped by Goffin’s knee injury as the teenager wrapped up a 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory.
Karolina Pliskova needed just 46 minutes to race into the quarter-finals of the women’s event with victory over Jennifer Brady.
The world No 1 had struggled in her last two matches, but this was much more like the player who beat both Williams sisters to reach her first grand slam final at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago.
Brady barely got a look in as she was routed 6-1 6-0.
Pliskova, who now plays 20th seed Coco Vandeweghe, admitted she has been struggling with the pressure of having No 1 next to her name but she got off to a good start here and played freely.
By the time the pair shook hands, Pliskova had thumped 23 winners, won 92% of points on her first serve and made just nine unforced errors.
Vandeweghe reached herthird grand slam quarter-final of the season with a 6-4 7-6 (7-2) victory overLucie Safarova.
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares remain on course to defend their men’s doubles title after a third round victory over Robert Lindstedt of Sweden and Australia’s Jordan Thompson.
Murray and his Brazilian partner, the fourth seeds, won their match in Louis Armstrong Stadium 6-3 6-4.