Nadal in fiery form

Spaniard beats Sock to reach q-finals

ROME: Rafael Nadal’s preparations for the French Open continued apace as he swept past 13th-seeded Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4 to ease into the Italian Open quarter-finals and extend his winning streak to 17 matches.

Fourth-seeded Nadal broke Sock’s serve twice in the second set and served out the match to set up a last-eight meeting with Dominic Thiem, who was beaten by Nadal in the Madrid Open final last week.

“I am here to try my best. I know (it) is a tough tournament. I don’t have an easy draw here, a tough one,” Nadal said.

“Dominic is the player that is having probably more success now on clay, no? So will be another tough battle tomorrow.”

The 30-year-old Nadal has won consecutive clay-court tournaments in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid.

The Spaniard is aiming for an eighth title at the Foro Italico as he prepares for the French Open in less than two weeks.

“I think I can play a little bit more aggressive than what I did tonight. I think I have to do it,” Nadal said.

“But in general terms I am happy with the way that I played, obviously.”

Thiem also beat an American but had to save two match points in a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) victory over Sam Querrey.

Four-time champion Novak Djokovic is also safely through to the quarter-finals after beating Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4.

Second-seeded Djokovic next plays Juan Martin Del Potro after the Argentine ousted seventh-seeded Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

In the women’s draw, Venus Williams defeated Johanna Konta 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Konta had won her previous three meetings against Williams but the American dominated the first set.

Although Konta rallied in the second, another double break in the third handed Williams victory. Williams will take on Garbine Muguruza after the 2016 French Open champion beat Julia Gorges 7-5, 6-4.

“I love this tournament and I love Rome,” Williams said. “It’s one of my favourite places on earth, so that’s one of the reasons why I have always come here.

“You know, I have had a good amount of success here.” — AP

— AP Back to you: Venus Williams of the United States returns a shot to Britain’s Johanna Konta during the third round of the Italian Open in Rome on Thursday.