MADRID:
World number one Rafa Nadal began his quest for a third clay title in less than a month with a 6-1, 6-3 drubbing of unseeded Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the Madrid Open second round.
The 24-year-old Spaniard, who won back-to-back tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona last month, did not face a single break point on his serve and converted his first match point when he whipped a trademark forehand winner down the line.
The victory took his record on the red dust since 2005 to 187 wins and only six defeats and set up a last-16 meeting against Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro.
Djokovic through to third round
World number two Novak Djokovic continued his blistering start to 2011 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over unseeded South African Kevin Anderson in the Madrid Open second round.
The Australian Open champion has won all 28 matches this season and is closing in on Ivan Lendl’s record of 29 victories at the start of the 1989 campaign.
“It’s kind of a surprise but I always believed that I have the quality to beat any player,” said Djokovic. “I’m a more mature player and I have more self-belief which is very important for this level.”
Meanwhile, world number three Vera Zvonareva was knocked out in the third round by Petra Kvitova, losing 6-1, 6-4 to the Czech 16th-seed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2011.
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