Nadal into quarterfinals, Peng Shuai retires at China Open

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World No.1 Rafael Nadal of Spain cruised past Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 6-3, while local favorite Peng Shuai retired due to a knee injury in the third round of the China Open in Beijing on Thursday.

In the men's draw, Nadal broke Khachanov in the fourth game and raced to a 4-1 lead to take control of the court in the first set. The 31-year-old, who won his third US Open title last month, maintained his momentum in the second set to seal the victory.

"I'm happy about the match today. I think I played a solid match," said Nadal, who will face John Isner of the United States in the quarterfinals tomorrow. The American big server stormed into the last eight with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Argentina's Leonardo Mayer.

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his win against Karen Khachanov of Russia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 5, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Russian teenager Andrey Rublev recovered from a set and a break down to storm past former winner Tomas Berdych and into the quarterfinals.

The 19-year-old, ranked 39, showed during the summer he has the potential to climb far higher, getting the better of world No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov and No. 14 David Goffin at the US Open.

On the women's side, 27-year-old Romanian Sorana Cirstea upset the fourth seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 7-5, also making it into the last eight.

Cirstea will next take on Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, the reigning French Open champion, who enjoyed a good start and stormed to a 3-0 lead before Peng called for a timeout to deal with her knee injury. It's the first time Ostapenko advances to the quarterfinals of the China Open.

Peng Shuai of China waves to the spectators after she retired due to injury at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 5, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

"Maybe recently there were ups and downs and several matches in a row that stressed it (knee injury)," Peng Shuai said after the match. "The doctor suggested I should take a period of rest and get it treated, but I can only rest after the season. I won't retire from tomorrow's doubles."

World No.3 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine beat Elena Vesnina of Russia in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5 in the third round in an hour and 49 minutes. Czech player Petra Kvitova, who ranked 18th in the world, defeated world number six Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-1, 6-4 to reach China Open quarterfinals.

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Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency