By Chris Soderstrom
Bidding for his first US Open title, top-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal fought past gallant American Sam Querrey to book a second quarter-final appearance in New York.
The 22-year-old faced his sternest test at Flushing Meadows in 55 th ranked Querrey but was able to produce some great counter-punching tactics to win 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
“Very tough,” said the World No. 1, who will next play another American, Mardy Fish. “I’m very happy for the victory. Now I’m in my best round at the US Open and I hope to play better in the next round.”
Querrey fired 20 aces and 52 winners, yet posted a whopping 50 unforced errors. He conceded the rampaging Spaniard was simply too good on the day.
“At the start I was a little nervous but after an hour I was hitting my shots pretty good,” said the 20-year-old.
“I was just taking my forehand and trying to rip it as hard as I could. He’s just too good.”
After claiming the Wimbledon and French Open titles, Nadal is hoping to join Pete Sampras, Rod Laver and current rival Roger Federer as the only men to win three successive Grand Slam events.
In other matches third seeded Serb Novak Djokovic also had to fight coming from a set down to defeat promising 19-year-old Marin Cilic 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (0), while Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro subdued Japanese teen Kei Nishikori in straight sets.