Nadal on course for title defence

Defending champion Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to claiming his first title of the season on Monday after recording a 6-1 6-3 victory against American teenager Donald Young at the Pacific Life Open.

The world number two, who lost to Andy Roddick in the Dubai quarter-finals last week, will face world number 17 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the last eight after the Frenchman posted a 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 victory against compatriot Paul-Henri Mathieu.