Wimbledon: Nadal on course for 3rd title, Murray also advance

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to clinching his third Wimbledon title after beating Karen Khavhanov in straight sets on Friday.

The ten-time French Open champion defeated his 21-year-old Russian opponent 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-3) on Centre Court.

Nadal is yet to drop a set in the tournament, having thumped John Millman, Donald Young in the first and second rounds respectively, and now Khavhanov.

If the Spaniard reaches the final then he will return to the top of the world rankings for the first time since June 2014.

“For a while I played fantastically,” Nadal said after the win. “The first set and a half was a great, great level – then it was a little bit tougher.

“I’m happy about almost everything.”

The 31-year-old will play Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller in the round of 16.

Read Also: Wimbledon: Djokovic races into third round with easy win

Also on Friday, Defending champion Andy Murray won a thrilling third-round contest against Italy’s Fabio Fognini at Wimbledon as darkness fell around Centre Court.

The Briton, 30, won 6-2 4-6 6-1 7-5 after two hours and 39 minutes.

In the Women’s Singles category, five-time champion Venus Williams defeated Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the fourth round.

She is the oldest woman in round four since Martina Navratilova in 1994.

Osaka, 19, pushed Williams hard but the 37-year-old’s experience eventually told as she won 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 in one hour and 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, World No. 2 Simona Halep made sure to remain in contention to rise to the summit of the ranking by by beating Peng Shuai of China in straight sets 6-4 7-6 (9-7) also on Friday.

The third Grand Slam of the Year, the Wimbledon Open, continues to Day 6 at the All England Club, as tennis fans anticipate more and more actions.

 

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