Nadal reaches U.S. Open quarterfinals

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Sept. 1 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal had to go four sets Monday to beat American Sam Querrey in a fourth-round match at the 2008 U.S. Open tennis tournament.

The top-seeded Nadal defeated Querrey in 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 and will compete in his second U.S. Open quarterfinal in three years.

The Spaniard needed 3 hours, 13 minutes to advance. Nadal, who was broken four times Monday, had only been broken three times in his previous three matches here. Querrey had 20 aces.

Nadal is 42-1 in his last 43 matches, including titles at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Olympic Games. He is trying to become only the fourth man in the Open Era (since 1968) to win three straight major titles -- joining Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer (twice).

Nadal's quarterfinal opponent will be American Mardy Fish. The unseeded Fish reached his first-ever U.S. Open quarterfinal by beating Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.