US OPEN: Impressive Nadal sets-up clash with comeback kid Verdasco

By Sportsbeat staff

RAFAEL Nadal has never been beyond the semi-finals at the US Open but he gave further evidence that this could be the year for an upgrade at Flushing Meadows.

IMPRESSIVE: Rafael Nadal was a comfortable winner over fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez at the US Open in New York (Reuters)

The world number one and top seed - who is seeking a third consecutive Slam title following wins at Roland Garros and Wimbledon - was a comfortable 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 winner over fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

He now faces another Davis Cup team-mate, Fernando Verdasco, in the quarter-finals.

Verdasco lost the first two sets of his match with David Ferrer and was down a break in the final set. He recovered to force a tie-break - which he was losing 4-1 before staging another remarkable comeback.

"It was a very tough match and after losing the first two sets it was the best comeback of my career," he said, after his 5-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 victory.

Stanislas Wawrinka, who beat Andy Murray in the third round, also needed five sets to progress in an enthralling tussle with Sam Querrey.

Elsewhere, defending champion Kim Clijsters set up a semi-final date with Venus Williams but both players were made to sweat for their progress.

Clijsters admitted she was scrappy during a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 win over Australian fifth seed Sam Stosur while Williams battled past determined French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 7-6, 6-4 .

Clijsters and Williams have played 12 times and their record is deadlocked, with the defending champion winning their quarter-final clash at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago.

And the Belgian is also on an 18-match winning streak in New York, that included title wins either side of her retirement in 2005 and 2009.

"We had a great match last year, it was really close," said Williams. 

"I'm sure that match made a big difference for her, because she went on to win the title.

"I'm sure we'll have another really good match-up. I would like to kind of flip the way it turns out."