 World number one Nadal was on court for less than two hours |
Rafael Nadal strolled into the fourth round of the US Open with an easy win over Serbia's Viktor Troicki. The world number one trailed 3-1 in the second set but won 11 straight games to clinch a 6-4 6-3 6-0 victory. The top seed will meet Sam Querrey in the last 16 after the unseeded American beat danger man Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2. Fourth seed David Ferrer went out on Saturday after losing an epic five-set contest against Japan's Kei Nishikori. The world number four fought back from two sets down and then recovered from 5-2 down in the decider. But rising star Nishikori, playing in only his second Grand Slam, finally sealed victory on his second match point, the 18-year-old prevailing 6-4 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-5 after three hours and 32 minutes. Nishikori now meets Argentine 17th seed Juan Martin del Potro, who also came through a marathon encounter as he beat France's Gilles Simon 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 3-6 6-3. Querrey faces an unenviable task against Nadal as he makes his debut in the fourth round of a Grand Slam. The Spaniard, seeking his first US Open title, believes he is only just coming into form in New York.  | 606: DEBATE |
"The truth is that I was practising much better yesterday than the first few days," said the French Open and Wimbledon champion. "I think I am ready to play a good match in the fourth round. I know I have to play a good match if I want to win." Querrey faced the Spaniard in 2006 - his first year as a professional - and won the first set in Cincinnati before losing in three. "Hopefully I've gotten a lot better since then," said the 20-year-old. "He has too. It should be a good match. I don't have anything to lose, so I can go out there and rip away and take some chances." Tenth seed Stanislas Wawrinka recovered from two sets down to beat Italian Flavio Cipolla 5-7 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-0 6-4 and set up a fourth-round match against Andy Murray. Mardy Fish came out on top in an all-American clash with James Blake winning in straight sets 6-3 6-3 7-6. Fish, ranked 35 in the world, will meet France's Gael Monfils in the last 16 after he upset Argentine seventh seed David Nalbandian. The 32nd seed powered through in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-2, celebrating with a jig to delight the Flushing Meadows crowd.
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