Nadal hammers out threat to Federer and Safin

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2005

MONACO (AFP) — Top seeds Roger Federer and Marat Safin brushed aside feeble opposition at the Monte Carlo Masters but Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal handed the pair a devastating demonstration of his own claims to the title.

World number one Federer picked up his 24th successive win of the season with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Spain's Albert Montanes while Safin, the second seed, eased past Cyril Saulnier of France 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round.

But it was 18-year-old Nadal's stunning 6-0, 6-3 dismissal of hapless Belgian Xavier Malisse which caught the attention.

The 11th seed, who has already picked up two clay court titles this year, brushed aside Malisse in exactly one hour with a devastating array of whipped forehands, drop shots and sweetly-timed...