Wimbledon | Nadal, Halep storm into quarterfinals with commanding wins

The quarterfinals at Wimbledon took shape on Monday with former champions Rafa Nadal and Simona Halep leading the way with commanding victories while Nick Kyrgios advanced after coming through a five-set epic despite problems with his shoulder.

Second seed Nadal took another step forward in his bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam with a 6-4 6-2 7-6(6) win against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

The All England Club, where the Spaniard has won two of his 22 majors, has been the least rewarding place for Nadal but he arrived this year having won the Australian and French Open titles back-to-back for the first time in his career.

Gunning for calendar slam

A third Wimbledon title and first since 2010 on the manicured lawns and a U. S. Open triumph would see the Mallorcan claim the calendar slam — a feat last achieved in 1969 by Australian great Rod Laver.

He will face American 11th seed Taylor Fritz for a place in Friday’s semifinals.

“To be in the quarterfinals here at Wimbledon after three years without playing here, it’s amazing for me,” said Nadal. “So very, very happy. It has been a good match in general terms against a difficult player. I think a very good player.”

Nadal played and won at Roland Garros with pain-killing injections prior to each match and only confirmed his participation at the All England Club after radio frequency treatment eased pain in his foot.

Easy for Halep

Simona Halep was expected to be tested by Spanish fourth seed Paula Badosa but the Romanian needed just an hour to win 6-1 6-2 as the 16th seed looks to reclaim her crown at the All England Club after her triumph in 2019.

Halep will play 20th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova who celebrated the Fourth of July — U.S. Independence Day — with a 6-2 6-3 win over Harmony Tan, ending the dream run of the Frenchwoman who eliminated Serena Williams in the first round.

Kyrgios has stunned the field to reach the quarter-finals for the first…