Nadal too strong for Ledovskikh

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

The second-seeded Spaniard, now the tournament favourite following the first round exit of Roger Federer at the hands of Andy Murray, won 6-4 6-0.

But Nadal has plenty of work ahead in a draw with no shortage of top 10 talent if he is to claim his first title of 2008.