Djokovic, Federer, Nadal advance in Hamburg

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Rafael Nadal defeated Briton Andy Murray 6-3, 6-2 Thursday to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the Hamburg Masters quarterfinals.

Federer breezed past Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2. The defending champion is seeking his fifth title in Hamburg and next will play Fernando Verdasco, who upset fifth-seeded David Ferrer 7-6 (2), 6-2.

Third-seeded Novak Djokovic also advanced, beating Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (3), 6-3 to stay on course for consecutive titles after winning last week's Rome Masters. Djokovic could replace Nadal as No. 2 in the ATP tour rankings next week.

Nadal was last year's runner-up in Hamburg, one of his two losses on clay in 107 matches since April 2005. The other was last week in Rome, when he lost in his opening match to Juan Carlos Ferrero while suffering from a painful blister on his right foot.

"It was much better than yesterday, I had much more confidence on court," said Nadal, who struggled to beat Potito Starace in the previous round. "It was a good match, I played very seriously."

Federer lost in the Rome quarterfinals to Radek Stepanek but has looked very comfortable in his first two matches in Hamburg, one of his favorite events.

Djokovic trailed 3-1 in the tiebreaker but then won six straight points. He had two good returns to set up three set points and took the first with a well-placed backhand to the corner. He crossed himself when he broke serve for a 4-2 lead in the second, which proved enough to win.

"I got lucky that I read his intention and I guessed which side he was going to serve," Djokovic said.

(Agencies)