Tennis: Andy Murray put two days of weather misery behind him to beat Donald Young 6-2 6-3 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals of the US Open. Rain on Tuesday and Wednesday had prevented all but three games of the match being played, and when it did finally get going in earnest Murray wasted little time.
Perhaps understandably, the world number four was not at his best, and he will need to improve his serve substantially if he is to go further, but a quick victory was just what the circumstances required.
He'll now face either Gilles Simon or John Isner on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.
Murray told Sky Sports: "I'm very happy because it's getting very warm now. It's tough conditions today. After the last couple of days it's good to get off in straight sets, get some rest, because it's going to be a long few days."
He added: "I could have made it easier for myself if I'd served better so I'll go and hit some serves this afternoon."
Young had provided one of the stories of the tournament, the teenage prodigy written off as a flop who looks like he has finally started to fulfil his potential at the age of 22.
Victory over Stanislas Wawrinka in round two was particularly impressive and Young could take confidence from knowing he had won his only previous clash against Murray in Indian Wells in March. However, Murray made a fast start when the players returned to the court in thankfully sunny conditions.
He rattled off the first seven games of the day by which time he was a set and a break to the good. The second set was much more scrappy with breaks traded regularly as Murray's serve deserted him. However, with Young's game, in particular the forehand, simply not consistent enough - he ended with 53 unforced errors to Murray's 17 - the British number one was soon two sets up.
Breaks were traded again early in the third set but Murray struck the decisive blow in the eighth game to open a 5-3 lead.
Somewhat ironically he sealed victory in the following game with an ace, the match having lasted two minutes less than two hours - an ideal workout for Murray, who cannot have expended too much energy. With the prospect of three more matches in the following three days, that was much needed.
Rafael Nadalwasted little time - and, importantly, little energy - in booking his place in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Nadal had been unhappy at playing in damp conditions on Wednesday, albeit for three games, all of which he lost to Gilles Muller. However, he soon set about putting things right when play resumed under sunny skies on Thursday morning.
The break of serve was soon retrieved and the defending champion went on to take the first set on a tie-break. The set had lasted 65 minutes but the next two were over in just 63 as Nadal returned to top form to dominate his Luxembourg foe.
He was soon celebrating a 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 6-2 victory, one which sets up a last-eight meeting with either Andy Roddick or David Ferrer.
Nadal will have been particuarly pleased with his serve. He put 73 per cent of his first serves in court and won 44 of 54 points played when that first delivery went in.
The rapid nature of victory will also have been a relief.
With the prospect of three more matches to play in as many days if he is to retain his title, the Spaniard could not afford to expend too much energy, particularly given the style of his game often leads to long encounters.