Top 3 Nadal, Davydenko, Gaudio Win at ATP StuttgartPosted on July 22, 2005 The top three seeds again advanced Thursday at the ATP stop in Stuttgart, three of the hottest claycourters this year in top seed and French Open champ Rafael Nadal (d. Spanish countryman Verdasco), No. 2-seeded Russian and French semifinalist Nikolay Davydenko (d. (WC) Waske), and No. 3 seed and former French winner Gason Gaudio (d. (16) Mathieu 6-0 in the third).
"This was my best match in several weeks," said Nadal, whose 31 consecutive wins on clay ties him with Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Guillermo Coria for the sixth-longest streak on dirt. "I even played better than in Bastad where I won the tournament. I'm happy with my serving today and that I'm improving every match. After reaching the quarterfinals here last here I hope to go further this time." No. 11 seed Tomas Berdych (d. Schuettler) also moved safely into the quarters, unlike seeds No. 4 Tommy Robredo (l. to Seppi in three) and No. 6 Jiri Novak (l. to Nieminen 7-6 in the third). Winners in all-unseeded contests were Argentine Mariano Zabaleta (d. Simon) and Czech Tomas Zib (d. Monaco). On tap for the Friday quarters in Stuttgart are (11) Berdych vs. (2) Davydenko, Seppi vs. Nieminen, (1) Nadal vs. Zib, and an all-Argentine in Zabaleta vs. (3) Gaudio. |
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