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Rafael Nadal became the first preclasificado on Monday to the quarterfinals of the Open by defeating Australia 6-3, 6-2 and 6-4 here at the end of 2007, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.

Spanish in 22 years was down a service break in the third set but recovered to win five games straight.


Gonzalez, who beat Nadal in the quarter-finals here on his way to the finals two years ago, took third round due to the difficult recovery from a disadvantage of two sets to overcome French Richard Gasquet 12-10 in the fifth .

Nadal, the current champion of the French Open and Wimbledon, looking to reach her first final in the first Grand Slam of the year. In his next engagement will face French Gilles Simon, who benefited from another retirement, when his friend and compatriot Gael Monfils quit after three partial.


"I'm playing well, but one never knows whether it will be enough," said Nadal, who had 33 winners and only 11 hits not forced errors.

Simon had the advantage 6-4, 2-6 and 6-1 when Monfils had to retire with an injury appeared in the arm or hand.


The fourth preclasificado Andy Murray was eliminated by Spanish Fernando Verdasco, 14th preclasificado with a partial 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 and 6-4.

The Scot saved two match points after being with regard to 40-0 against, but could not avoid the third, stars a setback in the network.


Verdasco was a key player in the triumph of Spain in the Davis Cup final in Argentina, and said he could benefit from the experience, said the title when recovering from a disadvantage in September after doing the same in the first confrontation.

"I think that the Davis Cup final, made me stronger mentally," said Verdasco. "And this season I worked really hard. So today, I really believe in me, he could win the match," he added.


American Serena Williams moved on Monday to the quarterfinals of the Australia Open after his opponent in the fourth round, the Belarussian Victoria Azarenka, withdrew due to an undisclosed discomfort immediately.

Azarenka won the first partial and Williams had a 6-3 advantage in the second set 4-2 when Azarenka, who seemed to falter when trying to provide a service, finally retired, thus ending the meeting.


Azarenka, 19, serving with regard to 30-30, walked staggering toward the shadows at the back of the court, holding her face and trying to contain the tears while trying to recover.

Had taken a medical time out before the September and left the arena game. He returned for one game and a half, but could not continue and was helped to leave the pitch shortly afterwards by two assistants.


"I just want to come and see that it is good. I feel so bad. She was playing very well," Williams said in an interview on the court. "There are many more great Australia Open for her," he added.

Executives said they were experiencing dizziness and an unspecified illness. "


Azarenka said he felt sick all morning.

"I woke up at six o'clock and I was throwing up all morning and I just felt weak," he said. "As I got to the stadium to see a doctor, I felt a little better.

"I am very disappointed because I played well and I could not hold a little longer because games were actually closed," he added.

Williams also had to be reviewed by a doctor in the second part, due to an ankle problem.

Now face the winner of the U.S. Open in 2004, the Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who went to the next round when his opponent, China's Zheng Zie, he hurt his wrist and was withdrawn.

Carla Suarez Navarro, the Spanish for 20 years who dropped to a seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams in the second round on Monday over his compatriot Anabel Medina Garrigues (preclasificada 21) with partial and 6-3, 6 -- 2.

In his next commitment, Suarez will face the Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva, the Russian fourth preclasificada happened to the quarterfinals for the first time in 11 years at Melbourne Park after winning by 6-2, 6-2 to Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.