Rafael Nadal sealed his place within the quarter-finals at Indian Wells after beating Reilly Opelka in straight units to assert his 18th straight win.
Spain’s Nadal received each units by tie-break 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) because the big-serving American Opelka held his personal.
Opelka served 9 aces to Nadal’s six however the 21-time Grand Slam winner used all of his expertise to advance.
Nadal will now face Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who acquired a walkover after Jannik Sinner withdrew via sickness.
At 6ft 11in, Opelka produced some trademark large photographs, together with a raft of serves that topped the 140 mph mark.
However Nadal withstood the barrage and fired some spectacular winners of his personal as he targets a fourth title within the California desert.
The world quantity 4 is unbeaten in 2022, and simply the second participant because the starting of the ATP Tour in 1990 to begin a 12 months 18-0 after touchdown a record-breaking slam on the Australian Open and the trophy in Acapulco final month.
Former world primary Novak Djokovic has completed it twice, beginning 41-0 in 2011 and 26-0 in 2020.
“It is tough as a result of it isn’t solely concerning the velocity,” Nadal mentioned of Opelka’s serve. “It is tough to learn his serve as a result of the serve is coming generally with topspin, generally slice.
“On the identical time it isn’t sufficient simply to place the ball in as a result of then he has an enormous forehand.
“So it is an incredible victory for me towards one of many hardest opponents that I can play.”
Elsewhere, Unseeded Serb Miomir Kecmanovic shocked world quantity six Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 to arrange a quarter-final with American Taylor Fritz.
Kecmanovic absorbed his opponent’s energy serve within the first set, changing on a break level likelihood within the fourth recreation, as a pissed off Berrettini received simply eight return factors.
However Berrettini, who reached his first Grand Slam ultimate at Wimbledon final 12 months, struck 21 winners and received a tense tie-break to degree within the second set.
Berrettini saved two breaks within the eighth recreation of a tightly fought ultimate set to remain alive however Kecmanovic pounced to interrupt the Italian’s serve to like within the ultimate recreation.
He’ll subsequent play Fritz, who beat Australian Alex de Minaur 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5).
