LONDON, (Reuters) – The quarter-finals at Wimbledon took shape yesterday with former champions Rafa Nadal and Simona Halep leading the way with commanding victories while Nick Kyrgios advanced after coming through a five-set epic despite problems with his shoulder.
Second seed Nadal, who is halfway to a calendar slam, brushed aside Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-2 7-6(6) to become the last player to reach the last-eight.
Halep was expected to be tested by Spanish fourth seed Paula Badosa but the Romanian needed just an hour to win 6-1 6-2 as the 16th seed looks to reclaim her crown at the All England Club after her triumph in 2019.
Halep will play 20th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova who celebrated the Fourth of July — U.S. Independence Day — with a 6-2 6-3 win over Harmony Tan, ending the dream run of the Frenchwoman who eliminated Serena Williams in the first round.
Kyrgios has stunned the field to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2014 but the Australian was made to work for his 4-6 6-4 7-6(2) 3-6 6-2 victory over American Brandon Nakashima.
Although Kyrgios called for the physio to treat his shoulder midway through the contest, he still managed to fire 79 winners to advance. He is the only Australian left in the men’s draw after Alex de Minaur and Jason Kubler were knocked out.
While qualifier Kubler lost in straight sets to American Taylor Fritz, who now meets Nadal, De Minaur went to five against Chile’s Cristian Garin, who saved two match points to win 2-6 5-7 7-6(3) 6-4 7-6(6). He next plays Kyrgios.
But Australia will also have a women’s quarter-finalist after Ajla Tomljanovic beat Frenchwoman Alize Cornet in three sets and she will play big-serving Kazakh 17th seed Elena Rybakina who beat Croat Petra Martic.
