Nadal notches up Sweeting victory

Defending champion Rafael Nadal swept into the last 32 with another straight-sets victory over American opposition on Centre Court. This time the victim was Ryan Sweeting, who was sent packing 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and seven minutes with the stadium roof closed to guard against inclement weather conditions.

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns a shot to Ryan Sweeting of the US at the All
England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon

Though he was slow into his stride, the Spaniard was virtually untouchable on serve for two of the three sets and by that stage he was playing well enough to fend off the comeback attempt which the 6ft 5in Sweeting produced in what proved to be the final set.

The 23-year-old Sweeting did well to match Nadal for power and aggression for much of the match, though he was eventually betrayed by a tendency to double-fault at key moments.

In addition to the brilliant serving which saw him concede only eight points in the first two sets, Nadal was the epitome of steadiness and committed just seven unforced errors, an incredible performance.

Nadal supporters had an early chance to rejoice when the world number one broke serve in the fourth game of the opening set, reaching break point with one of his special searing forehands down the line, which was followed by the first of what proved to be 10 Sweeting double faults. Giving virtually nothing away on his own serve, Nadal mopped up the opening set in 36 minutes with the second of his match total of nine aces.

Beneath his back-to-front cap, Sweeting's head dropped a little at the start of the second set, a fatal thing to do against Nadal, and in no time he found himself trailing 4-0. To his credit, the American then hit back bravely but not in time to prevent Nadal capturing the second set in spectacular fashion with three successive aces.

In the opening game of the third set, Sweeting clung onto his serve despite three double-faults and though Nadal broke in the third game the American hit back to capture the Spanish serve for the first - and only - time in the match. Nadal's response was typical. From a 2-3 deficit he swept four of the next five games, extending his Wimbledon winning streak to 16 matches.

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