PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) - Nicolas Almagro pummelled fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco into submission at the French Open on Monday to set up a quarter-final showdown with Rafael Nadal.
The 24-year-old blasted away from the baseline with his sledgehammer forehand, advancing 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-4 in two hours and 12 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Seventh seed Verdasco looked jaded in his 43rd Tour match of the season and only during the second set did he offer much resistance against a player he beat here last year.
Almagro, who has matched his run to the last eight in 2008, sealed victory on his first match point when a Verdasco forehand landed fractionally beyond the baseline.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Miles Evans. To query or comment on this story email
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