Tennis-Nadal's Rome title hopes boosted by easy draw

By Paul Virgo

ROME, May 3 (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal's bid to win a record fourth consecutive Rome Masters title next week was boosted on Saturday when he drew an easier path to the final than world number one Roger Federer.

If results go to seedings, Spain's world number two Nadal will meet eighth seed James Blake in the quarter-finals and then face number four Nikolay Davydenko in the semis.

Federer, in contrast, is lined up to face world number five David Ferrer in the last eight and a possible semi-final showdown against Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic or Argentina's David Nalbandian.

Nadal's side of the draw also features Britain's Andy Murray and France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who stunned the Spaniard in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Nadal and Federer both have byes into the second round.

After a difficult start to 2008, Nadal has predictably regained his form on clay.

Last month, the triple French Open champion beat Federer to become the first player in more than 90 years to win four consecutive Monte Carlo titles and on Saturday, he cruised into the final of the Barcelona Open.

He is now aiming to become the first person to win the Italian Open four times as he prepares for Roland Garros, which begins on May 25.