体坛英语新闻：Nadal sets up Safin showdown, S. Williams stumbles out of China Open

BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Top seed and 2005 champion Rafael Nadal survived a tricky encounter against American James Blake 7-5,6-7(4), 6-3 in a heavyweight second round clash at the China Open ATP tournament on Thursday.

    Coming up next for Nadal in the last eight will be wildcard and 2004 titlist Marat Safin from Russia, a 6-3, 6-4 victor over seventh seed Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball during the men's singles second round match against James Blake of the U.S. at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2009. Nadal won 2-1.

In the WTA tournament, Serena Williams, the world number one in waiting, crashed out to Nadia Petrova in the third round.

    The American, who will take the top ranking from Dinara Safina next week after the Russian lost early in Beijing, went down 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5).

Marat Safin of Russia returns a shot agaisnt Fernando Gonzalez of Chile during the men's singles second round match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2009. Safin won 2-0.

Petrova, the 13th seed from Russia, will play Peng Shuai in the last eight after the Chinese player defeated Maria Sharapova on Wednesday.

    In other third round women's matches, local player Zhang Shuai did not delight her home fans again, losing 6-1, 6-4 to Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, while Beijing Olympic bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva of Russia and 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland also advanced.

    Bartoli will next meet Zvonareva in the quarterfinals and Radwanska shall take on Russia's Olympic champion Elena Dementieva.

    Nadal should have finished earlier while serving for the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set, but the 29-year-old Blake restored his form in time, forcing a tiebreak. Leading at 6-1, theAmerican converted on the third set point to level the match.

James Blake of the U.S. reacts during the men's singles second round match against Rafael Nadal of Spain at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2009. Blake lost 1-2.

 "He's a very good player and his return is very fast," said Nadal, who is competing in Beijing for the first time since clinching the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games.

    "I think I played a very good match. I feel it was one of my best matches after my knee injury. I'm happy with how I played today.

    "Every match is important; every win is very important. Every win gives you confidence. I feel it was a very good win. I didn't have a lot of bad shots with the forehand, so that's important," added the world number two.

    The 23-year-old Mallorcan captured the 2005 Beijing title over Argentine Guillermo Coria. He has improved to a 56-8 record this season, highlighted by the Australian Open crown and four ATP world tour trophies.

    Safin, 29, had a much easier time of it in his second round match, beating an out-of-sorts Gonzalez and snapping a six-match losing streak against the Chilean dating back to February 2005.

Nadia Petrova of Russia returns a shot against Serena Williams of the U.S. during the women's singles third round match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Oct. 8, 2009. Petrova won 2-1

The big-serving Safin won 88 percent on his first serve and registered 12 aces to his name compared to just one from Gonzalez.

    "I know I will play better tomorrow," said Safin. "Nadal is going to be the favorite. I have no pressure. I'm just going to play my game, go for it, be aggressive and then we'll see. It's going to be my biggest match in a long time so I'm pretty excited."