MADRID — World No. 1 Serena Williams remained on course for a third consecutive Madrid Open title with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro Thursday. Wimbledon champion Andy Murray's return to action was ended in the third round by Santiago Giraldo as the Colombian romped to a 6-3, 6-2 win. Murray was competing for the first time in a month in the Spanish capital and was powerless to stop the in-form Giraldo, who reached the final of the Barcelona Open two weeks ago, as he sealed victory in just over an hour to set up a quarter-final meeting with Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal remains on course to retain his title as he moved into the last eight with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen. Next up for the 13-time Grand Slam champion is a meeting with sixth seed Tomas Berdych after the Czech came through in three sets against Bulgarian 12th seed Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Japan's Kei Nishikori continued his fine form on clay after winning in Barcelona two weeks ago as he outlasted eighth seed Milos Raonic in two tie-breaks 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5). Serena will now meet fifth seed Petra Kvitova in the last eight. Kvitova was also a winner in straight sets as she overcame Czech compatriot Lucie Safarova 6-4, 6-3. Second seed Li Na had a more difficult morning as she had to come from a set down to beat 16th seed Sloane Stephens 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Next up for Li is a meeting with four-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova as she proved too strong for 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur in a 6-4, 6-3 victory. Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska is also safely into the quarter-finals as she thrashed Italian Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-1. Nadal better than Federer, says Agassi Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi has picked Spaniard Rafa Nadal over Swiss maestro Roger Federer as the greatest tennis player ever, according to a newspaper report Thursday. The 32-year-old Federer, with 17 Grand Slam titles, leads his younger opponent who has 13 majors and is recognized as a complete player on all surfaces. “I'd put Nadal No. 1, Federer No. 2,” Agassi told Singapore's Straits Times newspaper, stoking the popular debate. “Federer separated himself from the field for four years. He separated himself from (Andy) Roddick and (Lleyton) Hewitt. “Nadal had to deal with Federer, (Novak) Djokovic, (Andy) Murray in the golden age of tennis. He has done what he has done and he's not done yet.” Nadal leads Federer 23-10 in all meetings and Agassi said the number of Grand Slam titles cannot be the sole yardstick to decide the greatest player. “He has won multiple (majors), every single one (more than once) except the Australian Open - and give him another year on that,” Agassi said. — Agencies
