With a brilliant variety of shots, 17-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeated top-ranked Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 in the third round of the Nasdaq-100 Open Sunday night in Key Biscayne, Fla.
“I was afraid he could win 6-1, 6-1,” the youngest player in the 96-man field said. “I played almost perfect tennis.”
Federer, the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, lost for only the second time in 25 matches this year.
In women’s play, top-seeded Serena Williams cleared another hurdle in her comeback from an eight-month layoff by beating Elena Likhovtseva 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Her path to the final became easier when fourth-seeded Jennifer Capriati lost to No. 25 Eleni Daniilidou 6-2, 6-4.
Three-time champion Venus Williams struggled early but played a flawless tiebreaker and beat No. 27 Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 (0), 6-2. In other men’s play, former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt lost to Andrei Pavel 6-4, 7-5. Hewitt had 10 double faults, including three in the final game.
