RAFAEL NADAL cruised into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships yesterday with a convincing victory over Russian qualifier Mikhail Ledovskikh.

Andy Murray was relieved to overcome a “difficult mental challenge” after he progressed to the quarter-finals of the Barclays Dubai Open with victory in three sets over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.

SECOND seed Rafael Nadal made predictably swift progress at Wimbledon yesterday, sweeping aside the challenge of Austrian veteran Werner Eschauer.

Rafael Nadal got his French Open title defence off to a winning start – but the Spanish king of clay admitted he would need to improve on a sluggish first round performance.

Andy Roddick tried to remain upbeat despite becoming the highest-profile casualty of the 2007 French Open following a four-set defeat to an inspired Igor Andreev.

Number two Rafael Nadal of Spain was involved in a real scrap with Luis Horna before beating the Peruvian 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-2 to move through to the third round of the US Open.

Rain continues to be a major problem at the final major of the tennis season.

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt was satisfied with both his game and his ankle after progressing to the French Open’s third round today.

Third seed and last year's runner-up Lleyton Hewitt will begin his quest for the Australian Open title with a first round match against Czech Robin Vik.

Neither Nathalie Dechy of France nor Jelena Jankovic of Serbia & Montenegro will be entering the US Open in a positive frame of mind.

DEFENDING champion Roger Federer cruised into round three at Wimbledon by beating Ivo Minar yesterday.

Greg Rusedski will face a daunting showdown with world number one Roger Federer after easing to a straight sets win over Jan Hernych in the opening round of the Qatar Open in Doha yesterday.

Tim Henman’s preparations for the US Open were dealt a blow tonight as he crashed out of the Toronto Masters.