SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 20 Nadal

Zverev dismantles reaches Medvedev to face Tsitsipas at Toronto quarters Masters AFP | Toronto the quarter-finals. Tiafoe of the United States 7-6 (7/1), Zverev rolled over Russian Daniil Medve- 3-6, 7-6 (7/4). 45-minute rain interruption did little dev 6-3, 6-2 in 52 minutes while never facing He next faces Wimbledon run - to stop the progress of Rafael Nadal a break point. ner-up and fourth seed Kevin An- Aon Thursday at the Toronto Masters Tsitsipas called his knockout of Djokovic, derson who defeated Ilya Ivashka as he defeated 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) “the best match of my career. I knew I was of 7-5, 6-3 to also make to reach the quarter-finals. playing pretty good today.” the last-eight. The halt in proceedings came 63 minutes The number 27 will play the first Masters Sixth seed Marin Cilic con- into the opening set, after Wawrinka saved a 1000 quarter-final of his career. tinued his quiet progress, Nadal set point for 5-all, with the Spaniard “He played very well and deserved to beating Argentine 11th seed then holding serve for 6-5. win without a doubt,” Djokovic said. “I just Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-2. When the weather passed, the pair re - played not that great. Canadian teen Denis turned, with Nadal wrapping up the set on “I didn’t return well. It wasn’t that great Shapovalov went down his second chance. of a match.” to Robin Haase, losing The second set was a battle as Bulgarian fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov la- 7-5, 6-2, ending local in- the Swiss, a three-time Grand boured for almost two and a half terest. The Dutch win- Slam champion, fought back hours to subdue Frances ner will take on Karen from an early break down, Khachanov, who beat took a 2-1 lead, with the pair eighth seed John Is- again trading breaks in the fifth ner 7-6 (7/5), and tenth games. 7-6 (7/1) Nadal came from a mini-break down in the tiebreaker and secured victory on his second match point. “It was a good match, a very positive victo- ry for me over a tough opponent,” Nadal said. “I’m happy to see Stan playing well again. We had a good quality of . “I’m very pleased, I needed a match like this. It does much for the confidence.” KNOW WHAT Nadal’s win was his 17th from 20 played Rafael Nadal against Wawrinka. Second seed , the holder, lined up a re-run of last week’s Washington Rafael Nadal has semi-final as he again takes on Stefanos stopped Roger Feder- Tsitsipas. er two times and The Greek who turns 20 on Sunday knocked out his second seed in as many Novak Djokovic once matches, stunning Wimbledon champion to complete winning Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 to reach all 4 slams in a row Cilic fires Nadal warning ahead of Toronto showdown

Express | Toronto is on the US Open at the end of the month, he is still hoping for arin Cilic has warned Ra- a positive result in the Rogers Mfael Nadal he is edging I feel that with my Cup and in closer to challenging him for consistency with the build-up. titles. my game, I’ve kept “They are big tournaments. Cilic beat Diego Schwartzman myself improving I’m also peaking my form to play in straight sets last night to book well at these,” he added. a blockbuster Rogers Cup quar- the past couple “You have to take every single ter-final clash with Nadal. of years, always week as seriously as you can. The pair will go head-to- finding some more “These weeks are extremely head on Saturday morning at things that I could important also for my game and 1am (BST) with a place in the improve, that I could the confidence. semi-finals up for grabs. look into a bit more “I’m definitely going to peak But Cilic is looking beyond my form for these tournaments this Masters event as he targets MARIN CILIC here and try to play best I can.” a second career US Open title Similarly, Nadal knows he four years after his only previous I could look into a bit more,” must be at his best to get a result major tournament win. Cilic said. against Cilic. “I feel that with my consisten- “I feel that new chances are “The first thing that I need to cy with my game, I’ve kept my- going to come up and that I’m do well is play my best tennis,” self improving the past couple of getting closer to winning some Nadal said. years, always finding some more more Grand Slams.” “Without playing well it will Marin Cilic things that I could improve, that Although Cilic’s main focus be impossible.”

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