Nadal into Madrid last eight
Rafa Nadal is heading for a semi-final match-up with Andy Murray after seeing off Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-2 in the Madrid Masters.
The resurgent Rafa Nadal remained on course for a last-four clash with defending champion Andy Murray as he eased past Sam Querrey to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters on Thursday.
Nadal stretched his perfect start to the European clay-court season to 12 matches as he fought back from going down an early break to beat Querrey 6-4, 6-2.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion is in fine form after victories in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and is seeking to break Guillermo Vilas' record with a 50th clay-court title in Sunday's final.
Nadal started slowly as Querrey stormed into a 3-0 lead and had a break point to lead 5-2.
¡Ya está entre los ocho mejores @RafaelNadal! ¡Espectáculo en la CajaMágica! #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/TsrlwXsnfd
— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 5, 2016
However, Nadal turned the match around by winning six straight games to seal the first set and break early in the second.
Querrey broke back to level at 2-2, but Nadal pulled away in the final stages to remain on course for a fifth title in Madrid.
"I had the confidence that if I managed to make the rallies longer, more than three balls, I knew that things could turn around," said Nadal.
"Luckily that's what happened. I saved that important point when we were at 4-2. Then from 4-2 I managed to break him and from there on things went more or less perfectly."
Nadal next meets Portugal's Joao Sousa, who overcame Jack Sock 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-2.