TENNIS in DEPTH.

Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to reclaiming his French Open title with a 6-2 7-5 6-4 win over rising Brazilian star Thomaz Bellucci.

Bellucci, 22, broke the world number two’s serve four times but could not find the consistency to mount a serious challenge against the Spaniard.

Nadal will face compatriot Nicolas Almagro, who defeated another Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco, in the last eight.

Novak Djokovic earlier booked a quarter-final against Jurgen Melzer.

Djokovic, the third seed, overcame a sloppy second set to beat unseeded American Robby Ginepri 6-4 2-6 6-1 6-2 while Melzer ended the run of Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili with a 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-1 6-4 win.

Almagro saw off a jaded Verdasco 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-4 in two hours and 12 minutes in the last men’s match of the day.

In beating Bellucci, Nadal went one step further at Roland Garros than he managed last year when he was stunned by Robin Soderling in the last 16, his first ever defeat in five visits.

Austria’s Jurgen Melzer booked his place in the French Open quarter-finals after ending the remarkable run of Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili.

The 22nd seed claimed a hard-fought 7-6 (8/6) 4-6 6-1 6-4 victory on Suzanne Lenglen Court and will next face Novak Djokovic.

World number 114 Gabashvili had not dropped a set en route to the last 16 and completed an embarrassingly one-sided third-round win over Andy Roddick on Saturday.

But despite producing another flurry of winners, he made almost as many unforced errors as the experienced Melzer held sway.

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