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Rio Open: Defending champion Rafael Nadal through to the quarter-finals in Brazil

Image: Nadal: Through to the last eight without dropping a set

Defending champion Rafael Nadal booked his place in the last eight of the Rio Open after a comfortable straight-sets victory over compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta.

The world No 3, playing in his first clay court tournament of the season, needed just over two hours to win 7-5 6-3 and is yet to drop a set in Brazil.

Carreno Busta, 23, who was playing Nadal for the first time, got off to a promising start, breaking the 14-time Grand Slam winner to edge 3-2 ahead early in the first set.

Nadal broke back but found it difficult to shake his young opponent off throughout the first and failed to convert three set points after setting up his chance in the 10th game.

But the Spaniard continued with his aggressive stroke-play, eventually closing out the set by breaking Carreno Busta in the final game.

Tough match

In the second set, Nadal took advantage in the eighth game and moved into a 5-3 lead and served out for the match to set up a quarter-final clash against sixth seed Pablo Cuevas.

For me every win is important - and especially on clay.
Rafael Nadal

"It was a tough match," said Nadal. "I was glad to get the break back when he got to 3-2. At 5-4 I made a couple of mistakes. Then in the second set I was a bit tired from the first to begin with and sought to bring my serve through.

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"At 3-2 I tried to get the break and it didn't come off but the next one did. For me every win is important - and especially on clay."

Argentine Federico Delbonis saw off eighth seed Martin Klizan in straight sets to book a contest with Italian Fabio Fognini, the fourth seed, after the latter eased past Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-3 6-2.

Sara Errani of Italy plays Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain during the Rio Open at the Jockey Club Brasileiro
Image: Errani: Overcame Lourdes Dominguez fightback to progress

In the women's draw, top seed Sara Errani overcame a late fightback from Lourdes Dominguez Lino to secure her place in the last eight.

The 27-year-old Italian won the first seven games to take the first set 6-0 and go 1-0 up in the second, but Dominguez Lino fought back to 5-5 before Errani closed out the match 7-5.

Elsewhere, sixth seed Anna Schmiedlova beat Paula Ormaechea 6-0 6-2 and Paraguayan qualifier Veronica Cepede Royg dumped out third seed Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-3.

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