Rafael Nadal muscled his way into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday and declared he was in the “right place” to have a crack at his second title in Melbourne.
The world number two said he was improving with each match as he ousted his Spanish friend Feliciano Lopez in straight sets on a stifling day on Rod Laver Arena.
With the air temperature hovering in the mid-30s Celsius (around 95 degrees Fahrenheit), Nadal powered to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over the 18th seed in 2hr 25min to reach the quarter-finals for the sixth straight year.
Nadal has experienced injury problems on his past two visits to Melbourne since his 2009 Australian triumph over Roger Federer, but is feeling positive after his fourth consecutive straight sets win this year.
“I’ve started the tournament playing really well this time. I felt I’ve played well from the first match and today I played another complete match,” Nadal said.
“Now I’m in the quarter-finals. I am doing the right things. I am in the right place, right moment.”
The Australian Open in recent years has not been a happy hunting ground for Nadal.
He retired with a knee injury in his 2010 quarter-final against Andy Murray and last year played out his losing three-set quarter-final with a torn thigh muscle against compatriot David Ferrer.
“Hopefully, it won’t happen this time,” Nadal said. “Every year is different. I’ve had a bad experience here in the last two years.
“In 2010 I retired because I couldn’t continue and last year I decided not to retire, but I had a problem in the second or third game of the match. So I played one complete match with very bad feelings.”
The 10-time grand slam champion set up a last-eight encounter on Tuesday with either Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych or Spain’s Nicolas Almagro.
Nadal broke left-handed Lopez’s serve five times and dropped his service only once. He was always in control of the match, improving his record against his opponent to nine wins in 11 meetings.
“It was a very hot day and I think it’s a positive to win in straight sets especially in these conditions,” Nadal said.
The Spaniard said his serve was working well.
“With spin on my first serves I always have the first shot with my forehand, and I have the chance to control the point from there,” he said.
“The serve is working well. Good percentage and a few free points in important moments.”
