Nadal Battles Past Simon to Hit Q’finals

Rafael Nadal overcame Gilles Simon in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s tennis in Rio.

The Spaniard, who had been an injury doubt coming into the tournament after pulling out of the French Open in May, won 7-6 (5), 6-3 after his opponent had looked to be coming back into the match after going 5-1 down in the second set.

He will now face either Thomaz Bellucci, the home favourite, or Belgium’s David Goffin in the last eight.

Organisers had to call off the action yesterday but Nadal came through following the delay and will be followed by Britain’s Andy Murray and Johanna Konta.

The Scot, who breezed through to the third round on Tuesday, is set to meet Italy’s Fabio Fognini while Konta is set to take on Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the quarter-final of the women’s event.

In their only previous meeting so far, world no.2 Kerber knocked Konta out of the Australian Open this year in the semi-finals.