Nadal charges ahead while Djokovic slogs (Roundup)

Cincinnati, Ohio - Novak Djokovic wants to take his mind off of the need to succeed after posting his best career showing at the Cincinnati Master on Wednesday 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-2) over Simone Bolelli. Rafael Nadal had no such complex in a 6-0, 6-1 trashing of outclassed Frenchman Florent Serra, getting the demolition done in three-quarters of an hour. But distant world number three Djokovic has no time to worry about his fading place in the rankings duel between Roger Federer and fast- closing rival Nadal. 'I'm not thinking about them and their rivalry,' said the Serb who won the Australian Open and a pair of Masters Series titles this season. 'I'm just trying to focus on my career. This is what I did until now, and this is what I will do. You always feel the pressure. That's part of the sport.' Djokovic improved his 2008 record to 41-10. But he may still be feeling the psychological burden of a second-round Wimbledon defeat by Marat Safin and the loss of his Toronto title last week. 'I know there is still a lot of room for improvement in my game,' Djokovic said. 'This is a positive fact, actually, for the future. I'm only 21. I don't want to put on extra pressure. I have enough pressure and expectations of being a favourite in most matches I get in.' Nadal, meanwhile, keeps up a show of indifference about his shot at the top ranking. 'If the number one comes, it will be very difficult to achieve. I have to keep playing like I have for the last four months,' said the reigning champion at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Nadal's rout was his second by that scoreline since May, when he dismantled German Denis Gremelmayr in Barcelona. Ecuadoran veteran Nicolas Lapentti put out fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-3. US player James Blake, seeded seventh, ended the recent run of form of France's Gilles Simon as he beat the 14th-ranked Indianapolis champion and Toronto semi-finalist 6-3, 6-4. After a minor knee worry last weekend, British eighth seed Andy Murray played with full fitness to defeat US big server Sam Querrey 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. The Scottish winner said he needed time to get used to a faster court and the Queerry game, recovering from an early break before taking complete control for a win in an hour and a quarter. 'This is a really important tournament for me, and I want to do well. I've got a good chance of moving my ranking up again this week,' Murray said. 'I want to try and get seeded into the top eight for the US Open. That's key, and I want to do better than the guys that are ranked around me.' Fast-rising Ernests Gulbis of Latvia put out French veteran Arnaud Clement 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5). Spain's Fernando Verdasco, number 10, joined Nadal as a winner over Australian Chris Guccione 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4). Indianapolis finalist Dmitry Tursunov hammered French 11th seed Richard Gasquet 7- 6 (10-8), 6-0.