China Open: Nadal takes down Fognini 7-5, 6-3

Fognini most recently hit 70 winners en route to eliminating Nadal from the US Open so a rematch in Beijing promises to thrill.

Novak Djokovic needed less than an hour to cruise into the quarter-finals of the China Open at the expense of wildcard Zhang Ze on Thursday. The third-seeded Nadal is in the uncharacteristic position of needing a strong finish to the season to qualify for the ATP Finals in London next month.

Earlier, Ivo Karlovic bludgeoned his way into the record books for career aces, and Garbine Muguruza had an eventful 22nd birthday as she smashed a racquet, reached the WTA Finals and then celebrated with cake.

“At the moment I don’t have any idea to change my mind”, she said.

Each player dropped serve twice in the opening set before Nadal got another decisive break when Fognini served at 6-5 down.

It was one of three wins the unseeded Italian had secured over the 14-times grand slam champion this year but Nadal ensured there would not be a fourth on a chilly day at the National Tennis Center in Beijing.

They steadied to take it to 6-5 for Nadal but Fognini wobbled as he served to stay in the set, wilting in the rallies as he finally gave up the decisive break and smashed the ball into the stands in anger. If I feel want to play, if I want to play, I play.

‘I just keep on going. Djokovic takes a 15-5 FedEx ATP Head2Head advantage over Ferrer into their semi-final clash, having won their past nine meetings.

“I’m just really motivated, like I said before, to try to finish on a high”. I think I’m not realizing it right now, to be honest, because I’m still playing the tournament.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and sixth-seeded Ana Ivanovic also advanced to women’s singles last 8, while men’s singles quarterfinals participants included Fabio Fognini and Pablo Cuevas.