Nadal rallies to reach last-eight

CINCINNATI: World number one Rafael Nadal saved a match point and rallied to defeat France’s Julien Benneteau 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the $3 million ATP Cincinnati Masters.

The reigning Wimbledon and French Open champion won for the 36th time in his past 38 matches but was on the verge of being ousted in the tie-breaker before fighting back.

Nadal will take on Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who upset Czech seventh-seed Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4.

World number two Roger Federer, fourth-ranked Briton Andy Murray and Serbian second-seed Novak Djokovic also advanced in the tournament.

Defending champion Federer had the easiest day, reaching the final-eight by walkover when Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber pulled out of their third-round match with a right shoulder injury.

Federer will next meet Russian sixth-seed Nikolay Davydenko, who beat Spain’s David Ferrer 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Third-ranked Djokovic defeated Argentina’s David Nalbandian 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) and will next face American Andy Roddick, who outlasted Swedish fifth seed Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-7 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5). Murray advanced by beating Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2010.