BARCELONA, Spain – Rafael Nadal breezed to his 23rd straight victory on clay Thursday, beating Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-2, 6-0 in the third round of the Barcelona Open.
The top-ranked Spaniard is looking to win a fifth straight title in Barcelona. He got one step closer when quarterfinal opponent David Nalbandian withdrew with a right hip injury on Thursday.
Earlier, Nalbandian had defeated Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-3, 6-4.
Nadal had 28 winners to Rochus’ seven as the 61st-ranked Belgian wilted in the warm conditions, losing his serve twice in the opening set.
Nadal, who has lost only three of his last 131 matches on clay, stretched to his right to send a backhand passing shot beyond Rochus to open the second set with a break. He closed it out on his second match point when the Belgian sent a backhand wide.
Spanish players David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo both rallied to advance. Ferrer best Potito Starace of Italy 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 while Robredo defeated Igor Andreev of Russia 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Robredo, the last man to win at Barcelona since Nadal’s run, broke Andreev three times and saved all five break points he faced.
MLS fans face charges
TORONTO – Two men face assault and other charges after two flares were thrown from the stands at an MLS game between Toronto FC and Chivas USA on Wednesday night.
Toronto police said one of the flares landed on a woman’s leg, causing burn injuries, and the other landed on the artificial turf at BMO Field and caused about $2,000 damage.
Andjelo Franjic, 18, of Stoney Creek, Ont., and a 17-year-old whose name was not released were charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and mischief under $5,000, police said.