Nadal on course for hat-trick
Nadal will face fellow Mallorcan Moya in the last eight
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Monday, 04, Jun 2007 09:53
Rafael Nadal remains on course to defend his French Open title after beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-1 7-6 to reach the quarter-finals.
The Spaniard made an explosive start against the Australian, losing just four games in the first two sets.
Nadal, the reigning two-time champion at Roland Garros, served for the match at 6-5 ahead but Hewitt broke back to force the tiebreak.
Hewitt led 4-2 in the tiebreak but after sending three forehands into the net, Nadal won five of the last six points to clinch victory after two hours and 21 minutes.
Nadal will clash with compatriot Carlos Moya in the last eight in Paris.
The 21-year-old praised Hewitt's fighting spirit in the third set.
"It's perfect to be in the quarter-finals and it's perfect play. Ten times better than the last few days," Nadal said.
"The match was tough all the way. I'm very happy with my game. I played my best match of the tournament for sure.
"I like his game a lot, and I like his attitude on court. He is a fighter, so I like that."
Nadal defeated Hewitt in a tight three-set match in the Masters Series in Hamburg two weeks ago.
Hewitt said the speed of the court suited Nadal more than in Hamburg.
"He served really well and he hit his forehand up the line extremely well. He just hits the ball so differently to anyone out there," Hewitt said.
"The spin he gets, it's quite amazing. [Fernando] Gonzalez has got a big forehand, but Nadal's is different. He has the best forehand to set up points on this surface."
Moya reached the last eight after defeating 35-year-old Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden 7-6 6-2 7-5.