MADRID (AP) — Umusad sa quarterfinals ang ‘big three’ ng world tennis -- Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray at Rafael Nadal – sa Madrid Open nitong Huwebes (Biyernes sa Manila).

Ginapi ng top-ranked na si Djokovic si Roberto Bautista Agut ng Spain 6-2, 6-1 para sa ika-30 panalo ngayong season – pinakamarami sa kasaysayan ng tour.

Pinabagsak naman ni defending champion Murray si Gilles Simon ng France 6-4, 6-2, habang magaan na bumiyahe sa susunod na round si Nadal kontra Sam Querrey ng U.S. 6-4, 6-2.

“I wanted to be aggressive and it’s what I’ve done,” sambit ni Djokovic, kumana ng 25 winner at may 11 unforced error.

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“The conditions were quite different than yesterday, it was a bit slower but a bit more windier, so I had to be concentrating,” aniya.

Makakaharap ni Djokovic sa susunod na round si 10th-ranked Milos Raonic, nagwagi kay Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-4.

Kabilang sa nagbigay ng suporta kay Djokovic si Brazil soccer great Ronaldo na nanood sa “Magic Box”. Bago ang laban, nagkasama ang dalawa sa Santiago Bernabeu Stadium bago ang laro ng Real Madrid kontra Manchester City sa Champions League.

Hindi rin nakaranas ng suliranin si Murray para patatagin ang kampanya na back-to-back title.

“I didn’t return that well at the beginning,” pahayag ni Murray.

“But when I got into a rhythm, I was able to dictate a lot of points. I used my variety well and served well. He wasn’t able to put me under much pressure on my serve after the first couple of games.”

Naisalba naman ni Nadal ang malamyang simula para magapi ang 37th-ranked na si Querrey.

“It was a tough start,” sambit ni Nadal.

“He was hitting every ball hard and was being successful. I couldn’t get to the ball. It took me a while to get into a rhythm.”

Mapapalaban ang dating No. 1 kay Portuguese Joao Sousa, namayani kontra American Jack Sock 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2.

Umusad din sa quarterfinals sina sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori matapos pabagsakin si 10th-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-5, habang namayani si eighth-seeded Tomas Berdych kay ninth-seeded David Ferrer 7-6 (8), 7-5.