Number two seed Rafael Nadal ran out an impressive 7-6 6-2 6-3 winner against Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer on Saturday to reach Wimbledon’s fourth round in fine style.

It was level-pegging all the way in the first set until the tiebreak when one precious early break by four-times French Open champion Nadal was all that was needed to give him the lead.

The German, who has never taken a set off Nadal in their three encounters, imploded in the second when the remorseless Spaniard broke his service twice and took a commanding lead.

With the sun setting behind Centre Court, the Majorcan lefthander, runner up the last two years here, went into overdrive in the third set with some awe-inspiring power serving and superb passing shots.