Incoming world number one Rafael Nadal and Serb Novak Djokovic battled feisty Russian opponents to move into the quarterfinals of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games tennis event on Wednesday.
Nadal, who is set to take over the number one spot from Swiss Roger Federer after the Olympic tennis event is over, took a while to find his footing in the beginning but finally had control of the match, outclassing Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2.
Third seed Djokovic struggled to gain control through the first set, clinching his quarterfinal berth with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win over Mikhail Youzhny in one hour and 36 minutes.
Andreev had four break points in the first set, but failed to convert on any of them while the Spaniard notched up deciding break in the seventh game of the opening set and added two more in the second set to close out the match in one hour and 35 minutes.
While the world number three Djokovic did not appear on top of his game, he never offered the Russian a shot at breaking his serve.
Youzhny had a brief lead with a mini break in the tiebreaker at 3-2 when Djokovic sailed a forehand crosscourt shot wide, an out call that the Serbian protested. But Djokovic won the next two points and then captured the set when the Russian No. 13 double-faulted on the 10th point.
Youzhny, who made 53 unforced errors in the match, surrendered his serve in the third game to put Djokovic permanently ahead and into the quarterfinals.
Nadal will play Jurgen Melzer from Austria in the quarterfinals, while the Serbian sensation plays the winner of the match between No. 7 seed David Nalbandian of Argentina and Frenchman Gael Monfils.
(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2008)