Rafael Nadal kept up his bid for a third Wimbledon and French Open double, putting on an ominous show to beat Karen Khachanov 6-1 6-4 7-6(3) on Friday and reach the last 16.
The Spanish fourth seed scorched his way through the first set, threatening to sizzle the parched Centre Court grass with the pace of some of his shots, and while the Russian 30th seed regrouped in sets two and three, the damage had been done.
(Read | Wimbledon 2017: Rohan Bopanna loses, Indian challenge ends in men’s doubles)
A rejuvenated Nadal, 31, won this year’s French Open, his 10th title there, without dropping a set and has kept up the pace at Wimbledon as he aims to covert that red-hot clay form to the grass to claim his first grasscourt slam title since 2010.
Khachanov came close to pushing him into a fourth set, reaching set point in the 12th game of the third set, but Nadal was too strong and accurate at the net and from the baseline.
{{/usCountry}}Khachanov came close to pushing him into a fourth set, reaching set point in the 12th game of the third set, but Nadal was too strong and accurate at the net and from the baseline.
{{/usCountry}}(Read | Wimbledon 2017: Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka enter women’s singles last 16)
Cilic, Muller advance
Seventh seed Marin Cilic needed just over two hours to beat American Steve Johnson 6-4 7-6(3) 6-4 on Court One.
The Croatian hit 40 winners to reach the round of 16 for the sixth time at Wimbledon.
(Read | Wimbledon 2017: Kei Nishikori beaten by ‘Mr Consistent’ Bautista Agut)
Meanwhile, Gilles Muller, the 16th seed from Luxembourg, beat Britain’s Aljaz Bedene 7-6(4) 7-5 6-4 to reach the fourth round for the first time in 10 appearances at Wimbledon.