Nadal rolls at Wimbledon; four Americans in 4th

Rafael Nadal, halfway to a calendar-year Grand Slam, advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over 27th-seeded Lorenzo Sonego on Saturday.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion beat the Italian on Centre Court.

“It’s been my best match at the championship so far, against the most difficult player I’ve faced at this level,” Nadal told the crowd after the match. “I wish him all the best for the rest of the season. He has a great future here.”

Nadal, who has won the Australian Open and French Open this year, won the title at the All England Club in 2008 and 2010.

The 36-year-old Nadal next plays 21st-seeded Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Taylor Fritz of the United States advanced to the fourth round for the first time after a straight-set victory over Alex Molcan.

The 11th-seeded Fritz beat the Slovakian 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3) on No. 3 Court. He will next face qualifier Jason Kubler of Australia for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Kubler beat American qualifier Jack Sock 6-2, 4-6, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in their third-round match.

The 24-year-old Fritz hit 20 aces and only one double-fault.

A total of four American men are into the round of 16 at the All England Club for the first time since 1999 after victories Saturday by Fritz and unseeded Brandon Nakashima. They will join No. 23 Frances Tiafoe and No. 30 Tommy Paul, who advanced a day earlier.

American Jenson Brooksby, the No. 29 seed, will not be joining them, as he fell to Chile’s Cristian Garin, who reached the fourth round for the second straight year with a 6-2, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory.

The 26-year-old Garin will next face 19th-seeded Alex de Minaur, who ousted British wild-card entry Liam Broady for a place in the quarterfinals.

Garin, who is ranked 43rd, said he appreciated the chants from compatriots in the stands at No. 3 Court. “When I hear that, I know that the Chileans are (here) somewhere, so that’s good,” Garin said.

The 21-year-old Brooksby was making his Wimbledon debut.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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