LONDON. – The quarterfinals at Wimbledon took shape on Monday with former champions Rafa Nadal and Simona Halep leading the way with commanding victories while Nick Kyrgios advanced after coming through a five-set epic despite problems with his shoulder.
The second seed Nadal, who is halfway to a calendar slam, brushed aside Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(6) to become the last player to reach the last-eight.
Halep was expected to be tested by Spanish fourth seed Paula Badosa but the Romanian needed just an hour to win 6-1, 6-2 as the 16th seed looks to reclaim her crown at the All-England Club after her triumph in 2019.
Halep will play 20th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova, who celebrated the Fourth of July — US Independence Day — with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Harmony Tan, ending the dream run of the Frenchwoman who eliminated Serena Williams in the first round.
Kyrgios has stunned the field to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014 but the Australian was made to work for his 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-2 victory over American Brandon Nakashima.
