Nadal through, Djokovic, Azarenka out at Madrid Masters 2013

Rafael Nadal made a comfortable start to his quest for a third Madrid Masters title on Wednesday but Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka slumped to a shock exit.

Nadal eased past Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-4 and will next face Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a place in the quarter-finals.

One break in each set was enough for Nadal as he overcame some impressive variety and touch shown by Paire early on to break when the world number 37 was serving at 2-3 down in the opening set, before eventually sealing it 6-3.

Paire had his only look at a break point on the Nadal serve early in the second set but couldn't take advantage, and in typical Nadal fashion he upped the pressure to break at 4-4 before serving out to book his place in the last 16.

AZARENKA CRASHES OUT

On the women's side there was a big upset as world number three Azarenka crashed out to Russian Ekaterina Makarova 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Azarenka had looked as if she would cruise into the last 16 early on as she dominated the world number 24 in the first set.

However, Makarova turned the match on its head in the second set as she broke early on and again with Azarenka serving at 2-5 to force the match into a decider.

There were even more twists and turns in the third as Azarenka again appeared to take control as she surged into a 2-0 lead, but the double Australian Open champion then fell to pieces with a string of unforced errors that allowed Makarova back onto level terms at 3-3.

Azarenka was then unhappy when she was docked a point by the umpire for smashing her racket in the next game as Makarova moved ahead for the first time in the set.

Azarenka, who had a 17-0 winning record on court this year going into the tournament, blamed her exit on a lack of match practice due to an injury that had kept her out for two months.

"I think it was really noticeable. I made mistakes that I don't normally do, but that's what comes after not playing for a long time," she said.

"I still have another tournament before the French Open to compete in, and I'm going to go back on the practice court as I always do and work hard to improve."

DJOKOVIC EARLY EXIT

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic believes his preparation for the Madrid Masters was badly affected by not being able to practice due to an ankle injury after he was knocked out in the second round by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (8-6), 6-7(8-10), 6-3.

Djokovic had recovered from rolling the injured right ankle whilst playing for Serbia against the USA on Davis Cup action last month to claim his first title in the Monte Carlo Masters a fortnight ago.

However, he said he did not know whether he would even take part in the Spanish capital until Saturday, although he also acknowledged that he had been beaten by the better player on the evening.

"I didn't prepare myself so well, but, look I'm not trying to find any excuses for the loss. I tried to do my best in this moment, and maybe my best is not like it was in Monte Carlo.

"All the credit also to Dimitrov, because he was the better player on the court. He was striking the ball really well, serving great, changing the pace, and, yeah, he deserved to win, as I said.

"For 12 days after Monte Carlo I haven't touched the racquet. I didn't know up to Saturday if I'm going to come here or not because of the ankle."

article source: rappler.com

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