Nadal beats Soderling to reach Rome Masters quarters
ROME, April 30 -- Top seed Rafael Nadal of Spain put aside Swede Robin Soderling 6-1 and 6-0 to book a ticket to the quarterfinal of the Rome Masters men's tennis tournament on Thursday.
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Robin Soderling of Sweden during their match at the Rome Masters tennis tournament in Rome April 30, 2009.
He will next play fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco while Novak Djokovic of Croatia and Roger Federer of Switzerland also had easy wins.
Holder Djokovic downed 13th seed Tommy Robredo 6-1 and 6-1 to set up a last-eight clash with Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, and Federer beat the number 16 seed Radek Stepanek 6-4 and 6-1 for a revenge of last year's defeat by the Czech.
World number one Nadal, a three-time winner in Rome, made a slow start as he needed six deuces to hold serve in the second game.
However, he soon found his stride to break in the following game, and did not lose another game.
Sixth seed Verdasco scored a 7-5 and 6-4 triumph over France's Richard Gasquet.
Del Potro, seeded fifth, will face Djokovic after beating Swiss number 10 seed Stanislas Wawrinka, last year's runner-up, 6-2, 6-7and 6-3.
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Robin Soderling of Sweden during their match at the Rome Masters tennis tournament in Rome April 30, 2009.
Robin Soderling of Sweden returns to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their match at the Rome Masters tennis tournament in Rome April 30, 2009.
(Xinhua)
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