Rio de Janeiro, Feb 21 (IANS): World No.1 Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Rio Open with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes.
The 27-year-old will now face the winner of the second-round match between Albert Ramos and Joao Sousa, reported Xinhua.
Nadal in the match Thursday showed none of the effects of a back problem that sidelined him after his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open final last month.
Earlier, third-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy reached the last eight with a 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-3 victory over Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas while Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine beat Argentine Facundo Bagnis 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (4).
In the women's draw, Japan's Kurumi Nara and Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain set up a last-eight meeting with wins, while Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania and Brazil's Teliana Pereira also progressed.