Rafa strikes Spanish blow while Jankovic escapes Wimbledon black mark

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Rafael Nadal struck a blow for Spain on the eve of the Euro 2008 football final when he beat Germany's Nicolas Kiefer to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Saturday.

Second seed Nadal, bidding to become only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season, won 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-3 and will meet Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a place in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, women's second seed Jelena Jankovic limped into the last 16 and avoided joining top seed Ana Ivanovic and third seed Maria Sharapova on the All England Club scrapheap.

"It's always difficult to play Nicolas on a fast surface like this so I am happy to be in the fourth round," said Nadal who'll now turn his attentions to Sunday's soccer showdown in Vienna.

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