14 May 2010

Nadal sees off big-serving American

6:28 am on 14 May 2010

Rafael Nadal has tamed the big-serving American John Isner to claim a place in the last eight of the Madrid Tennis Open.

The world number three, bidding for a third straight Masters title of the year, broke the booming Isner serve late in the first set and early in the second.

With Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo and several of his Real Madrid team mates in the crowd, 23-year-old Nadal sealed victory with his only ace of the match.

The local favourite Fernando Verdasco missed out on the quarters when he was upset 7-5 6-3 by the Austrian Juergen Melzer.

The world number one Roger Federer plays huis countryman Stanislas Wawrinka for a place in the last eight.