JOIN USRafael Nadal and Roger Federer breezed into the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday and Juan Martin del Potro defeated Alexander Zverev.
World number one Nadal blew away Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-1 in 63 minutes and plays sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov as he pursues one of the few tournaments to have eluded him.
Timeless rival Federer was even faster, dismissing Ukrainian qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-2 in 61 minutes.
Dimitrov beat American Sam Querrey 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to set up a Chinese reunion with Nadal. Federer, the Swiss world number two, plays either of the Frenchmen Gilles Simon or Richard Gasquet in the last eight on Friday.
A mouthwatering Nadal-Federer final on Sunday awaits if the celebrated pair continue at the current rate.
Gutsy Del Potro recovered from a set down to win 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 against rising star Zverev and will next play Viktor Troicki or John Isner.
Also through are fourth seed Marin Cilic and Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas, they go head to head in the last eight.
Wozniacki withdraws
Caroline Wozniacki and top seed Elina Svitolina, who have both qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals, withdrew from the Hong Kong Open through injury on Thursday.
Wozniacki pulled out before her match against Lizette Cabrera with elbow pain, giving the Australian teenager a free passage into the quarterfinals.
Svitolina failed to recover from a right leg injury to start her match against world number 114 American Nicole Gibbs.
Jennifer Brady upset Chinese eighth seed Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the last eight in Hong Kong. She was joined by Wang Qiang who defeated Thai Luksika Kumkhum 6-4 6-4.
Sharapova in last 8
Maria Sharapova overpowered Poland’s Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3 to enter the quarterfinals of the Tianjin Open (in China) on Thursday and is targeting a first title since returning from a 15-month doping ban.
The five-time Grand Slam champion set up a clash with Swiss qualifier Stefanie Vogele who beat Yulia Putintseva 6-2 6-3. Meanwhile Peng Shuai beat compatriot Wang Xiyu 6-2, 6-2 while Sara Errani got past Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.