Rafael Nadal demolished Juan Carlos Ferrero
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Editor /
14 March 2007 /
World number two Rafael Nadal demolished Juan Carlos Ferrero to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters.
The Spanish maestro took just over an hour to claim a one-sided 6-1 6-1 victory and secure a last-eight meeting against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela, who beat America's Michael Russell 6-4 6-4.
Nadal has a solid chance of glory in the US following top seed and tournament favourite Roger Federer's second-round exit.
And the left-hander feels he is hitting top form just at the right time, saying: "I am happy with my game right now. I am playing so much better with my backhand."
Looking ahead to his game with Chela, Nadal added: "He is playing with a lot of confidence. I need to play my best tennis because every match in the quarter-finals is tough."
Nadal is the 1.15 favourite to beat Chela (6.4) in the Match Odds market and is also now much-fancied at 3 to claim the title in the Winner's market.
Home favourite Andy Roddick is also through to the quarter-finals after he beat 15th seed Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 and he will play Ivan Ljubicic. The American, runner-up in Memphis last month, is available at 1.55 to see off his opponent and can be backed at 5.6 to win the tournament on home soil.
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