Madrid, Spain – Former champion Rafael Nadal was an easy third-round winner Thursday at the $4.425 million Madrid Open, an ATP Masters event.
The fifth-seeded former world No. 1 star cruised past Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 in 75 minutes on Day 5 on the red clay at The Magic Box.
The hot Nadal is now a dazzling 28-2 this season and seeking a fifth title in his seventh tournament. He titled in Barcelona just two weeks ago, reaching a sixth final in six tries.
The reigning French Open king is a two-time Madrid titlist and two-time runner-up in the Spanish capital.
Meanwhile, last year's Madrid runner-up Tomas Berdych moved on with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 victory over big-serving South African Kevin Anderson.
Berdych lost to Swiss icon and three-time Madrid champ Roger Federer in last year's finale.
Seventh-seeded French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the round of eight with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spanish southpaw Fernando Verdasco, while wild card Pablo Andujar was tied with fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 5-5 in the first set when Gimeno-Traver retired from their bout.
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