Djokvovic, Nadal extend winning streaks*****

FE Team | Published: May 06, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

MADRID, May 5 (AFP): Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both extended their win streaks with opening victories at the ATP-WTA Madrid Masters Wednesday as Roger Federer waited for his chance to join them in the third round. Djokovic, who beat South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-4, extended his run of 2011 success to 28 consecutive matches, putting the Serb within striking distance of the record for the all-time best season start in tennis. The second seed now has a chance to draw level with Ivan Lendl, who went 29 matches without defeat at the start of the 1986 season. Nadal won a 35th consecutive match on the surface, efficiently dispatching former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-1, 6-3 in just under 90 minutes. Nadal has not lost on clay since 2009 in the French Open fourth round to Robin Soderling. The top-seeded title holder next faces a high-voltage third-round showdown with Argentine Juan Del Potro, who thrashed Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-0 after complaining of hip pain a day earlier. Third seed Federer was opening against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez later having won all seven of their previous encounters.