Nadal breezes into Shanghai last eight

AFP, SHANGHAI: Rafael Nadal underlined his status as world number one and the man to beat at the Shanghai Masters as he powered into the quarter-finals at the expense of Fabio Fognini on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Spaniard was comfortable in seeing off the 28th-ranked Italian 6-3, 6-1 and will play sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the last eight.

Top seed Nadal is chasing a seventh title this season, but a career-first Shanghai Masters. Earlier, Juan Martin del Potro fought back from a set down to beat racquet-smashing rising star Alexander Zverev and reach the on Thursday.

The seasoned Argentine recovered to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in one hour, 55 minutes against the 20-year-old Zverev and will next play either Viktor Troicki or John Isner.

Zverev was going after his sixth title of an outstanding season and was comfortable in the first set against Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and 16th seed.

The German prodigy and the 29-year-old, whose career has been beset by injury, went toe to toe in the second set and the tie break was just as tight until Del Potro grabbed the crucial mini-break. And then came the turning point -- and the flash of anger from third seed Zverev -- as he yielded the crucial service break to go 3-2 down in the third set.

“Right now I'm very pissed off, as you can probably tell,” said Zverev afterwards, having smashed the racquet on the court, then trodden on it, and brutalised it further as he stomped back to his chair.

A fan at least came away with a demolished racquet after Zverev handed it to a spectator.

“I don't understand how I can lose a match where I get broken one time in three sets and not managed to get any chances on his serve," said Zverev, the world number four tipped to one day top the rankings.

“I'm a bit pissed off because I feel like I played well and that's the upsetting part of it -- I could have done great in this tournament.”

Also into the quarters in Shanghai, where Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were in action later, are sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov and Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

The Bulgarian Dimitrov defeated American Sam Querrey 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) and Spain's Ramos-Vinolas saw off Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Nadal breezes into Shanghai last eight

AFP, SHANGHAI: Rafael Nadal underlined his status as world number one and the man to beat at the Shanghai Masters as he powered into the quarter-finals at the expense of Fabio Fognini on Thursday. The 31-year-old Spaniard was comfortable in seeing off the 28th-ranked Italian 6-3, 6-1 and will play sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the last eight. Top seed Nadal is chasing a seventh title this season, but a career-first Shanghai Masters. Earlier, Juan Martin del Potro fought back from a set down to beat racquet-smashing rising star Alexander Zverev and reach the on Thursday. The seasoned Argentine recovered to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in one hour, 55 minutes against the 20-year-old Zverev and will next play either Viktor Troicki or John Isner. Zverev was going after his sixth title of an outstanding season and was comfortable in the first set against Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and 16th seed. The German prodigy and the 29-year-old, whose career has been beset by injury, went toe to toe in the second set and the tie break was just as tight until Del Potro grabbed the crucial mini-break. And then came the turning point -- and the flash of anger from third seed Zverev -- as he yielded the crucial service break to go 3-2 down in the third set. Right now Im very pissed off, as you can probably tell, said Zverev afterwards, having smashed the racquet on the court, then trodden on it, and brutalised it further as he stomped back to his chair. A fan at least came away with a demolished racquet after Zverev handed it to a spectator. I dont understand how I can lose a match where I get broken one time in three sets and not managed to get any chances on his serve, said Zverev, the world number four tipped to one day top the rankings. Im a bit pissed off because I feel like I played well and thats the upsetting part of it -- I could have done great in this tournament. Also into the quarters in Shanghai, where Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were in action later, are sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov and Albert Ramos-Vinolas. The Bulgarian Dimitrov defeated American Sam Querrey 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) and Spains Ramos-Vinolas saw off Germanys Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.