Nadal one win from year-end No. 1; Federer also wins, Djokovic falls
MADRID, Spain -- Former champions Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer powered into the Madrid Masters quarterfinals while title hopeful Novak Djokovic bowed out to Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) on Thursday.
Top-ranked Nadal moved closer to clinching the season-ending No. 1 ranking by beating Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, while second-ranked Federer eased past Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-1.
Nadal, the 2005 champ who must return to the final to retain the year-end top spot, set up an all-Spanish matchup with Feliciano Lopez, who beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 6-4.
Federer, the 2006 champ, will face Juan Martin del Potro, who eliminated defending champion and fellow Argentine David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2.
"He's proved a lot in the last year ... so I'm excited to play against him," Federer said about his meeting with the ninth-ranked player. "My goal is going to be to try and break his rhythm."
Also, fourth-seeded Andy Murray edged Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-5, 7-6 (2) while eighth-seeded Andy Roddick lost to Gael Monfils of France 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Karlovic's aggressive game and ferocious serve frustrated the third-ranked Djokovic into fits of racket throwing and shouts.
Aces flew as both players held serve thanks to Madrid's fast conditions; the Croat hit 21 aces to Djokovic's eight.
Djokovic, who hadn't lost before these quarterfinals, overhit a passing shot on Karlovic's first match point.
Nadal dominated his French opponent, hitting one passing winner after another as Gasquet came to the net all match. Nadal noted afterward that a right leg injury was much better.
"I played a good match and I am leaving happy with my game, but it's true that he has made more unforced errors than usual, especially with his backhand," Nadal said.
In a first career matchup with Federer expected to produce lots of sting, Tsonga seemed to lose steam from the end of the first set when the Frenchman nicknamed "Ali" because of his uncanny resemblance to former boxer Muhammad Ali double-faulted.
Federer had few problems from there on out and scored two breaks in the second set to complete the quick win.
"I tried to put him under pressure there, the conditions allow you to do that," Federer said. "At this stage you're looking for the knockout punch, like in boxing."
The ninth-ranked del Potro controlled the third-round match from the start after breaking Davis Cup teammate Nalbandian in the first game.
"I have to do my things, but in Davis Cup he is the leader and he is the one that counts above everyone else," said del Potro, who was closing in on a spot at next month's Masters Cup in Shanghai. "We don't compete to see who is the best from Argentina."
Nalbandian, who won the Stockholm Open last week, and del Potro will play singles for Argentina in the Davis Cup final against Spain to close the season next month.
U.S. Open finalist Murray broke Cilic twice in the last three games to take the first set.
Cilic rallied late in the next set to force a tiebreak, but Murray took a 6-1 lead after Cilic double-faulted. Murray clinched the match when Cilic hit a shot long.
"I hit some great shots to break him," Murray said. "I was getting chances on his service games. I found a way to get through."
Gilles Simon of France, who saved four match points to beat Igor Andreev in the first round, saved two more in beating Robby Ginepri of the United States 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (6) to face Karlovic.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
