Nadal reaches fourth round at open

Spaniard Rafal Nadal posted a straight-set win Sunday and advanced to the fourth-round in the U.S. Open.

The former world No. 1 player eliminated the 32nd-seeded Nicolas Almagro, also of Spain, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 in 2 hours, 39 minutes.

Nadal has reached the fourth round in the open four straight years.

Another Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero, moved on after his third-round opponent, Gilles Simon, pulled out with a knee injury.

Ferrero, seeded No. 24, was leading 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 when Simon, the ninth seed, retired.

The Spaniard is in the fourth round at the open for the first time since 2003.

Scott Andy Murray, the No. 2 seed played in a later match.