Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 12:23 PM IST

  Madrid Open: Big guns on target

Madrid Open: Big guns on target

AFP
Published : May 5, 2016, 12:34 am IST
Updated : May 5, 2016, 12:34 am IST

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov at the Madrid Open at the Caja Magica sports complex in Madrid on Tuesday. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo: AFP)

TEN1_1.jpg
 TEN1_1.jpg

Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov at the Madrid Open at the Caja Magica sports complex in Madrid on Tuesday. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo: AFP)

Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal stretched his perfect start to the European clay-court season to 11 matches with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov to reach round three of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.

Defending champion Andy Murray began his defence of the title with a 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-1 win over 37-year-old Czech Radek Stepanek to remain on course for a semi-final meeting with Nadal.

Fresh from victories in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Nadal will continue his quest for a fifth title in Madrid against American Sam Querrey or France’s Lucas Pouille on Thursday.

Australian Nick Kyrgios dumped out 2014 finalist Stan Wawrinka. Kyrgios saw off the Swiss star with a 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/2) second-round defeat lasting one and three-quarter hours.

Nadal is looking for a record 50th career clay-court title in the Spanish capital and was rarely troubled by the world number 39 Kuznetsov.

The Spaniard raced into a 3-0 first-set lead and one break was enough to seal the set as he staved off break points in the fourth game.

Kuznetsov made a more positive start to the second to lead 3-2, but was blown away as Nadal, ominously for his rivals later in the week, found his rhythm to win the last four games.

Nadal’s path to the final was eased as his potential quarter-final opponent Roger Federer withdrew due to a back injury on Monday.

However, he could face Murray in the last four in a repeat of last year’s final.

Murray needed three sets to overcome Stepanek, but eventually got the job done in just under two-and-a-half hours on court.

Location: Spain, Madrid