Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open after registering straight sets victory over veteran Nicolas Mahut in the men’s singles event on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Spaniard took one hour and 35 minutes to sweep aside Mahut of France 6-4, 7-6(7-4) in what could have been a tricky fourth-round contest in Key Biscayne.
Although fifth-seed Nadal split his previous two matches against Mahut, he took the career head-to-head lead behind a consistent service performance on Tuesday.
The Frenchman failed to earn a single break throughout the match, which allowed Nadal to win in straight sets even though he broke Mahut just once.
Nadal, who is bidding to clinch his first title at Miami, will now lock horns with the red-hot American Jack Sock for a place in the semi-finals.
