Nadal makes the quarters

ByEurosport

Published 15/06/2006 at 17:23 GMT

Rafael Nadal dug in to beat countryman Fernando Verdasco 2/6 7/6 7/6 in his third round match at Queen's on Thursday, while Gael Monfils won against Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 7-5 in the battle of the big servers. Andy Roddick beat Panadorn Srichaphan 7-6 7-5.

Nadal broke Verdasco's serve in the first game with some powerful early strokes. However, his opponent came straight back with a break of his own following some silky play from the back of the court.

Verdasco moved Nadal all over the court, breaking twice more in the set and holding well to take it comfortably.

Clay court specialist Nadal - who beat world number one Roger Federer last Sunday to win the French Open - then had to serve to stay in the match in the second before winning the tiebreak 7-3.

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TENNIS 2006 ATP Queen's Club Rafa Nadal

Image credit: Imago

Before the third and decisive set Verdasco - ranked 30 in the world to Nadal's 2 - needed treatment on his back and thigh.

He refused to give in though and fought hard to secure another tiebreak. Eventually Nadal's superior fitness told and he won 7-3 to take victory on his third match point.

Nadal will face LLeyton Hewitt in the quarter finals in an intriguing match. Hewitt lost in four sets to Nadal in the fourth round at Roland Garros but on grass the 2002 Wimbledon champion will be a very different proposition.

"It's a very difficult match," said the 20-year-old Spaniard, who last lost a tennis match in March.

"He's one of the best players on grass but I'm going to try my best. He has the pressure, for sure. I just want to enjoy it."

BATTLE OF THE SERVERS

Gael Monfils won the battle of the big servers against Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 7-5.

Rallies were rare as the players held game after game. The first set went to a tiebreak, in which Monfils eventually triumphed 13-11.

TENNIS 2006 Queen's Gael Monfils

Image credit: Imago

The second set followed a similar pattern, although Monfils played a couple of golden shots to snatch ultimately useless points.

Monfils finally broke Ljubicic at 6-5 to win the match and will meet James Blake in the quarter finals.

Meanwhile Andy Roddick beat Panadorn Srichaphan 7-6 7-5. He will meet Fernando Gonzalez next.

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