MADRID, Spain -- Rafael Nadal cruised into the Madrid Open quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Mikhail Youzhny that featured an attractive array of shots on Thursday.

Having already established control by stealing Youzhny's second service game, Nadal kept a point alive with a deft no-look backhand flick before nailing a winner down the line to hold his serve and delight his fans at the Caja Magica.
The fifth-ranked Spaniard then broke Youzhny again by dinking the ball over the net while on the run, giving it so much backspin it twisted away from the Russian.
Fittingly, Nadal polished off the third-round match by chasing down a ball and returning it cross-court.
Nadal, who is searching for his seventh straight final since returning from injury, improved to 28 wins and two losses on the year. He will next play either David Ferrer or Tommy Haas.

Source: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/rafael-nadal-beats-youzhny-to-reach-quarterfinals-of-madrid-open-1.1274200