Rafael Nadal continues encouraging form to book meeting with Stan Warwinka
Rafael Nadal produced another encouraging display to defeat Milos Raonic and reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.
The Spaniard was a finalist in Beijing last week and declared himself in positive spirits despite a comprehensive loss to Novak Djokovic.
Having come through a final-set tie-break against Ivo Karlovic on Wednesday, Nadal saw off ninth-seeded Canadian Raonic 6-3 7-6 (7/3) in the third round.
After registering his first victory over a top-10 opponent in six attempts, the Spaniard said: “I felt that I was not playing with as much nerves when I am on court. I was able to enjoy the match.”
In the last eight, Nadal will play French Open champion Stan Wawrinka, who needed nearly three hours to defeat Marin Cilic 7-5 6-7 (7/9) 6-4.
Djokovic registered the 70th win of his exceptional season in customary dominant fashion, easing past Feliciano Lopez 6-2 6-3.
His quarter-final opponent will be Australian Bernard Tomic, who did not walk off the court until after midnight following an impressive 6-3 6-7 (1/7) 6-4 victory over Richard Gasquet.
Third seed Andy Murray was another player to come through a tough three-setter, the two-time grand slam champion edging a high-quality encounter against John Isner 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 6-4.
Murray next meets fifth seed Tomas Berdych, a 6-3 6-3 winner over Gilles Simon, while Kevin Anderson will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Anderson, the newest member of the world’s top 10, upset Kei Nishikori in two tie-breaks, with Tsonga ending the run of Roger Federer’s conqueror Albert Ramos-Vinolas – although not without a fight.
Ramos-Vinolas won the opening set but Frenchman Tsonga hit back to triumph 6-7 (5/7) 7-5 6-4.
