• Swiss Indoors

Nadal and Federer race through to Basel quarter-finals

Rafael Nadal gave up just 14 points to qualifier Pierre-Hughes Herbert in Basel © Getty Images

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Rafael Nadal showed no ill effects of his appendicitis as he raced through to the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors with a 6-1 6-1 victory over French qualifier Pierre-Hughes Herbert.

The world No.3, who plans to defer potential surgery on his inflamed appendix until the end of the season if possible, was helped by some erratic serving from his opponent, who made just 27% of his first serves during the match.

Herbert twice held break points on the Nadal serve, but the Spaniard held firm to wrap up a quick-fire victory in 57 minutes.

Later, top-seed Roger Federer needed just 46 minutes to win his first round clash against Gilles Muller 6-2 6-1.

Federer was thoroughly clinical in despatching Muller and goes up against Denis Istomin to join Nadal in the last eight.

"I am very happy with how the first round went here," Federer said. "It was totally different to Shanghai, when I saved five match points [versus Leonardo Mayer]. This time around, I was really in control from the get-go. I hope I can keep this level up."

Istomin routed former Wimbledon semi-finalist Jerzy Janowicz by the same scoreline as Nadal's match, but Borna Coric provided the day's first big upset with a 7-6(2) 6-3 victory over sixth seed Ernests Gulbis.

David Goffin ran into no such problems, the seventh seed edging past Ivan Dodig 7-6(0) 6-4, while Andrey Golubev wrapped up a 6-3 6-3 win over Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3 6-3 in 62 minutes.

In the final match of the day, fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov looked out-of-sorts as he battled past wildcard Alexander Zverev 2-6 6-4 6-2 in one hour and 45 minutes.

Dimitrov saved 11 of 14 break points to earn a second-round clash against Vasek Pospisil. Federer is a potential quarter-final opponent.

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