Nicolas Kiefer

Argentine David Nalbandian kept his Masters Cup hopes alive by beating German Nicolas Kiefer 7-6 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters.

It took nearly two months, but James Blake is back in the win column.

The fourth-seeded American moved through the first round of the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament on Wednesday with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer.

It is Blake’s first win since a second-round victory in late August at the U.S. Open. The 28-year-old lost to compatriot Mardy Fish in the next round at Flushing Meadows and decided to take the next six weeks off due to fatigue.

Rafael Nadal continued his drive towards Roger Federer's number one ranking with a 6-3 6-2 win over Nicolas Kiefer in the Toronto Masters final on Sunday.

Nadal, playing his first event since an epic five-set victory over Federer in the Wimbledon final on July 6, claimed his seventh title in 2008 by winning his fifth final in a row since mid-May.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, making a smooth transition from grass to hardcourt, extended his winning steak to 29 matches.

Spain's Rafael Nadal beat Nicolas Kiefer 6-3 6-2 to win the Toronto Masters on Sunday and move within sight of the world number one ranking.

Playing his first event since an epic five-set victory over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final on July 6, Nadal extended his winning steak to 29 matches as he overwhelmed the 31-year-old German in 90 minutes.

World number two Rafael Nadal battled to a scrappy 7-6 6-3 win over Briton Andy Murray on Saturday to set up a Toronto Masters final against resurgent German Nicolas Kiefer.

Nadal, playing his first event since his epic win over Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, has made a smooth transition from grass to the North American hardcourts.

The Spaniard's victory stretched his winning streak to 28 matches and left him on course for a fifth consecutive title following wins at Wimbledon, Queen's, Roland Garros and Hamburg.

TORONTO -- Rafael Nadal will be a favourite on Saturday in the Rogers Cup, which is why he needs to be careful.

The second-seeded Spaniard attempts to continue his breakout season when he faces No. 8 Andy Murray of Great Britain in the semi-finals of the US$2.6-million hardcourt event.

The winner will meet German Nicolas Kiefer, who outlasted Gilles Simon, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), in the other semi-final.

James Blake became the latest big-name player to lose at the Rogers Cup.

German Nicolas Kiefer ousted the seventh-seeded American 6-1, 6-2 at the tournament on Friday to advance to the semifinals. Kiefer, ranked 37th in the world, will play Gilles Simon.

The 23-year-old Frenchman advanced with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatia’s Marin Cilic.

Blake joined top seed Roger Federer, who lost to Simon, and Andy Roddick, who was beaten by Cilic, as high-profile players making early exits.