NEW YORK - Second seed Rafael Nadal edged out big-serving South African Weslie Moodie 6-4 7-6 7-6 today to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time.
The Spaniard was pushed hard by the world number 82 but finally clinched victory after two hours 49 minutes to set up a fourth-round win clash against Czech Jiri Novak.
"This tournament is very special for me," Nadal said.
"I reached the fourth round, which is good and I am improving on hard courts."
Also today, British teenager Andy Murray upset 10th seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-2 and Lleyton Hewitt beat Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-1 6-2.
One break was enough to give Nadal the first set and the French Open champion snatched the second on a tiebreak to take complete control.
Moodie continued to test Nadal with his serve-volley game but the world number two always held the edge and won the third-set tiebreak 7-4 to advance to the last 16.
Results
Men
Third round
15-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) bt 20-Novak Djokovic (Serbia and Montenegro) 6-3 6-1 6-2, Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) bt 11-David Ferrer (Spain) 4-6 6-4 7-5 6-4, Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) bt Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4, 25-Richard Gasquet (France) bt Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerland) 7-6 6-3 2-6 7-6
Second round
Marat Safin (Russia) bt 4-David Nalbandian (Argentina) 6-3 7-5 2-6 3-6 7-6
- REUTERS
Tennis: Nadal reaches fourth round for first time
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