Smooth progress for Nadal

Rafael Nadal made smooth progress into the fourth round of the US Open with a straightforward win over Gilles Simon on Sunday.

The first two sets were closely fought but the world number one always had the edge and he ran through the third to complete a 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory and set up a last-16 clash against fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

It was a good day for the Spanish men as David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco set up a local affair as they both won their third-round matches.

Ferrer advanced to the last 16 at Flushing Meadows for just the second time in his career with a comfortable 7-6 (7/2) 6-2 6-2 win over yet another Spaniard, Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

The last time Ferrer reached the fourth round in New York was in 2007, when he beat Nadal on his way to the semi-finals, which remains his best result in a grand slam.

Eighth seed Verdasco needed four sets to beat Argentina's David Nalbandian.

A tight contest looked on the cards when Nalbandian took the second set to level the match, but Verdasco stepped up a level when it mattered to complete a 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2 victory on the Grandstand Court.

A record nine Spanish players had reached the third round, but 14th seed Nicolas Almagro was unable to advance to the last 16 as he lost in straight sets 6-3 6-4 6-4 to American Sam Querrey.

However, 23rd seed Feliciano Lopez did ensure more success for Spain, the left-hander leading 6-3 4-0 against Sergiy Stakhovsky when the Ukrainian was forced to retire hurt from their third-round clash.