Defending champion Rafael Nadal beat Gilles Muller in straight sets on Saturday to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon, committing only three unforced errors in a masterful display that keeps the Spaniard on course for a third title at the All England Club.
In a match that had been suspended by darkness on Friday after the first set, Nadal hit 36 winners and never lost serve to defeat the 92nd-ranked wild card from Luxembourg 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-0 on Court 1.
Muller had been the last player other than Roger Federer to beat Nadal at Wimbledon, in the second round in 2005.
Nadal could next face another Grand Slam champion, 2009 U.S. Open winner Juan Martin del Potro, who was facing Gilles Simon in the third round Saturday.
Sharapova into fourth round
Former champion Maria Sharapova struggled with her game but reached the fourth round at Wimbledon on Saturday by beating Klara Zakopalova 6-2, 6-3.
The fifth-seeded Russian, the only champion in the women’s draw other than the Williams sisters, had 21 unforced errors and four double-faults in an inconsistent baseline performance in windy conditions on Court 2.
But, after falling behind 3-1 in the second set, Sharapova lifted her game to win five games in a row to finish off the 35th-ranked Czech player.
Zakopalova struggled with her footing, slipping at least four times along the baseline.
Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004 at age 17, hasn’t reached the semifinals since 2006. She will next face 20th-seeded Peng Shuai of China, who beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Berdych through
Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych moved into the fourth round at Wimbledon by beating Alex Bogomolov Jr. of the United States 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
Berdych reached the final at the All England Club last year, beating six-time champion Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic before losing to Rafael Nadal.
In the fourth round, Berdych will face either Mardy Fish or Robin Haase.
Wozniacki progresses
Top - seeded Caroline Wozniacki reached the fourth round at Wimbledon for the third straight year after beating Jarmila Gajdosova 6-3, 6-2.
After an even start on Centre Court, Wozniacki broke for a 5-3 lead in the first set before serving out and was never troubled again by the 28th-seeded Australian, winning in 66 minutes.
Wozniacki will play 24th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round on Monday as she looks to advance to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the first time.
