Three-time Rogers Cup champion Rafael Nadal safely made his way through into the quarterfinals on Thursday in Montreal with a straightforward 6-3 6-3 win over Russia Mikhail Youzhny.
Nadal put in a flawless performance; the #7 seed was never troubled on serve throughout the contest lasting an hour and 42 minutes. The Spaniard hit 20 winners, compared to that of his Russian opponent’s 10.
This is the former champion’s first hard court tournament in the US hard court swing. Despite not playing on hard court since before Roland Garros the Spaniard looks to be in fine form. The former World #1 made an early exit in Wimbledon yet got back to winning ways shortly after with a title in Hamburg; proving there is still life in the champion yet.
Nadal and Tsonga through, Isner Silences Kyrgios
Nadal booked a showdown with #4 seed Kei Nishikori after the top-ranked Japanese star saw off Belgian 13-seed David Goffin 6-4 6-3. Nishikori is no stranger to hard court success; a quarterfinal meeting between the two will be one not to be missed.
2014 champion Jo-Wilfired Tsonga also made smooth progression into the quarterfinals on Thursday after beating Australian Bernard Tomic in two close sets, claiming victory 7-6 6-3. The Frenchman was in fine form. He fired 17 aces at his opponent and managed to capitalize on an impressive 2 out of 6 break points on the Aussie’s serve, a difficult feat given Tomic’s powerful serve.
Tsonga set a showdown with Andy Murray in the next round, in what will be their second time in two years in Canada with the Brit losing to the Frenchman in the semifinal stage last year.
Nick Kyrgios, man of the moment for many of the wrong reasons, was finally silenced in Montreal on Thursday afternoon by big serving American John Isner. The American put in a solid display to beat the temperamental Aussie 7-5 6-3 and did not face a single break point throughout the match.
Some fans will be delighted to see the trash-talking Aussie out of the competition. Kygrios was fined earlier in the day for his inappropriate remarks towards Stanislas Wawrinka in the previous round, solidifying his reputation of the bad-boy on tour.
#16 seed Isner proved he is not to be taken lightly on the hard courts, given his fine form last week in Washington, where he made in to the final, and will be more than a handful for his next opponent, Frenchman Jermemy Chardy, whom has an unexpected 3-0 head-to-head record against the American.
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