Easy for Nadal and Mathieu breaks down

Rafael Nadal was gifted an easy passage into the quarter-finals of the

Australian Open when his fourth-round opponent, Paul-Henri Mathieu, retired

hurt.

The world number two was leading 6-4 3-0 when the French 23rd seed called an

early halt to proceedings.

Spaniard Nadal forced the first break of serve in game three of the opening

set, and just two games later Mathieu showed the first signs of injury when he

called for the trainer to treat a troublesome lower leg.

Mathieu was able to continue but Nadal went on to wrap up the set in 40 minutes

and had also won the first three games of the second when the Frenchman decided

to retire.

Nadal will now face Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in the last eight.