<p>Seven of the top eight seeds have reached the quarterfinals with World number one Novak Djokovic and rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray having little trouble. <br /><br />The all-Spanish contest though was a gruelling grind in the mid-day heat that lasted three hours and 38 minutes and was decided by a mistake-filled third tie-break. <br /><br />It was just the fifth time in 635 matches that Nadal has played in a three tie-break game but he has won on all five occasions. <br /><br />Nadal, who gave up three match points in the decisive tie-break, stuck with the task to finish off a determined Verdasco despite never finding his rhythm. <br /><br />While it was as close as could be, the game lacked the expected quality as Nadal made 41 unforced errors and Verdasco 59 while the World number two managed only 24 winners. <br /><br />Nadal will face Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals after the American beat France's Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-5. World number one Djokovic took his season record to 55-1 with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win over Czech Radek Stepanek. <br /><br />Britain's Andy Murray had a relatively comfortable 6-2, 7-5 win over American qualifier Alex Bogomolov to set up a clash with Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat fifth-seed Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. <br /><br />Switzerland's Federer, looking relaxed and composed, took just 55 minutes to defeat American James Blake 6-4, 6-1 and he will now meet Czech Tomas Berdych who easily dealt with Spain's Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 6-2. <br /><br />Li crashes out<br /><br />The Cincinnati Open claimed two more high-profile victims on Thursday with Grand Slam champions Li Na and Petra Kvitova crashing out, while Russian pair Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva crunched their opponents en route to the quarterfinals. <br /><br />A day after world number one Caroline Wozniacki, star attraction Serena Williams and third seed Victoria Azarenka exited the tournament in defeat or through injury, French Open winner Li tumbled with a 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 loss to Samantha Stosur. Wimbledon champion Kvitova fell to emerging German talent Andrea Petkovic, ranked 11th in the world, who enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 win in front of a smattering of fans on an outside court. <br /><br />At the same time, on center court, Sharapova was making quick work of compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in a 6-2, 6-3 victory. World number two Zvonareva crunched Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-2, 6-2 and will face Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, who beat France's eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. <br /><br />Another Russian, Nadia Petrova, enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over American teenager Christine McHale, who upset top seed Wozniacki in the second round. Serbia's Jelena Jankovic twice failed to serve for the match but finally prevailed over Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. <br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>Seven of the top eight seeds have reached the quarterfinals with World number one Novak Djokovic and rivals Roger Federer and Andy Murray having little trouble. <br /><br />The all-Spanish contest though was a gruelling grind in the mid-day heat that lasted three hours and 38 minutes and was decided by a mistake-filled third tie-break. <br /><br />It was just the fifth time in 635 matches that Nadal has played in a three tie-break game but he has won on all five occasions. <br /><br />Nadal, who gave up three match points in the decisive tie-break, stuck with the task to finish off a determined Verdasco despite never finding his rhythm. <br /><br />While it was as close as could be, the game lacked the expected quality as Nadal made 41 unforced errors and Verdasco 59 while the World number two managed only 24 winners. <br /><br />Nadal will face Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals after the American beat France's Richard Gasquet 7-5, 7-5. World number one Djokovic took his season record to 55-1 with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win over Czech Radek Stepanek. <br /><br />Britain's Andy Murray had a relatively comfortable 6-2, 7-5 win over American qualifier Alex Bogomolov to set up a clash with Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat fifth-seed Spaniard David Ferrer 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. <br /><br />Switzerland's Federer, looking relaxed and composed, took just 55 minutes to defeat American James Blake 6-4, 6-1 and he will now meet Czech Tomas Berdych who easily dealt with Spain's Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 6-2. <br /><br />Li crashes out<br /><br />The Cincinnati Open claimed two more high-profile victims on Thursday with Grand Slam champions Li Na and Petra Kvitova crashing out, while Russian pair Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva crunched their opponents en route to the quarterfinals. <br /><br />A day after world number one Caroline Wozniacki, star attraction Serena Williams and third seed Victoria Azarenka exited the tournament in defeat or through injury, French Open winner Li tumbled with a 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 loss to Samantha Stosur. Wimbledon champion Kvitova fell to emerging German talent Andrea Petkovic, ranked 11th in the world, who enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 win in front of a smattering of fans on an outside court. <br /><br />At the same time, on center court, Sharapova was making quick work of compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in a 6-2, 6-3 victory. World number two Zvonareva crunched Croatian qualifier Petra Martic 6-2, 6-2 and will face Slovak Daniela Hantuchova, who beat France's eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. <br /><br />Another Russian, Nadia Petrova, enjoyed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over American teenager Christine McHale, who upset top seed Wozniacki in the second round. Serbia's Jelena Jankovic twice failed to serve for the match but finally prevailed over Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. <br /><br /><br /></p>