Nadal nails Youzhny

Updated 18.02 Mon Jun 30 2008
Keywords: Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal maintained his Wimbledon quarter-final collision course with Andy Murray after dispatching Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-3 6-1.

The Spanish second seed avenged the worst defeat of his career - a 6-0 6-1 thrashing in Chennai earlier this year - by battering Youzhny into submission in two hours and 10 minutes on Court One.

Nadal avenged the worst defeat of his career - a 6-0 6-1 thrashing in Chennai earlier this year - by battering Youzhny into submission in two hours and 10 minutes on Court One.

Russian 17th seed Youzhny traded blows with the French Open champion from the baseline but Nadal overpowered his rival with some typically ferocious shots.

The 22-year-old, who is on course for a third successive final at the All England Club, overcame an early injury scare to post his straight-sets victory.

The match was just one game old when he requested a break to allow his trainer to treat a troublesome knee.

Racing to the net, the Spaniard showed remarkable speed to return a drop shot but then pulled up after sustaining the damage to his right leg.

When play resumed the knee was dressed with extra strapping but the manner in which he bludgeoned his way to three break points in the fourth suggested there were no lingering ill-effects.

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