Nadal easily advances at U.S. Open

Aug 29, 2008 - 8:40 AM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Now the world's No. 1 player, Rafael Nadal has moved on to his next challenge - winning the U.S. Open. It has gone quite well so far.

The top-seeded Spaniard, who is in search of his third consecutive major championship, ousted American Ryler De Heart, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4, in the second round at the U.S. Open on Thursday.

Taking over for long-time No. 1 Roger Federer, Nadal has been on a roll in 2008, capturing his fourth straight French Open title, grabbing the crown at Wimbledon and taking the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. He also has won five other titles this year.

But few tournaments have given Nadal more trouble than the U.S. Open.

The lefthander never has advanced further than the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows and was eliminated in the fourth round last year - Nadal's worst showing at a Grand Slam in the last three years.

Nadal, who was known as a clay-court specialist before his domination this year, looked comfortable on the hardcourt here against the inexperienced De Heart.

Despite dropping the first two sets Thursday, De Heart did not seem intimidated, winning the first three games of the third before getting overwhelmed by Nadal's superior talent.

"The important thing was I had to come back in the third set and I'm happy with the victory," Nadal said.

De Heart played with an incredible enthusiasm and quickly won over the crowd, which included his fiancee and former college coach - who each gave him a standing ovation despite the loss.

The 22-year-old Nadal needed to survive an early test in the first round, defeating German Bjorn Phau, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), on Monday.

In the next round, Nadal will face Viktor Troicki, who advanced when No. 25 Philipp Kohlschreiber retired with an undisclosed injury. Troicki was leading 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-0 when the match was halted.

While Nadal has had two easy matches thus far, James Blake had a much easier time in Thursday's match than he did in the opening round.

The ninth-seeded American advanced to the third round of this year's final major, when Belgian Steve Darcis retired in the third set with Blake leading 4-6, 6-3, 1-0.

Blake had a lot more trouble with his first opponent in this hardcourt event. He committed 50 unforced errors and needed five sets to finish off fellow American Donald Young, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 on Monday.

A quarterfinalist here in 2005 and 2006, Blake was eliminated in the fourth round at the U.S. Open last year. The 28-year-old has yet to make it past the quarters in any major during his career but has enjoyed the most success in this event.

Up next for Blake is countryman Mardy Fish, who upset 24th-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Also on Thursday, fourth-seeded David Ferrer defeated German Andreas Beck, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

The world No. 4 who reached the semifinals here a year ago, Ferrer next will face Japan's Kei Nishikori, who won the first two sets, 6-1, 7-5, against Roko Karanusic before the Croatian retired.

Like Ferrer, No. 6 Andy Murray also had his hands full Thursday, as the Scot edged French lefthander Michael Llodra, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7).

Murray, who never has advanced beyond the fourth round in Flushing, will meet Jurgen Melzer in the third round. The Austrian moved on with a 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Czech Jiri Vanek.

Also on Thursday, seventh seed David Nalbandian of Argentina defeated Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, while No. 10 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 victory over American Wayne Odesnik.

Other seeded winners were No. 14 Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, No. 16 Gilles Simon of France, countryman Gael Monfils, the 32nd seed and No. 17 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, who continued his hot streak of late.