Top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain moved into the quarter-finals of the $2.45-million (1.35 million pound) Montreal Masters on Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sebastien Grosjean of France.
The 19-year-old Nadal, winner of eight tournaments this season, is looking for his first career hardcourt victory and looked impressive against Grosjean despite playing a late match on Wednesday night due to rain.
He lost the first game of the opening set and then trailed 15-40 in the second game but rallied to tie the match and wasn't in any real difficulty at any point after that.
"I'm happy," Nadal said after the match. "I played a good match and beat a very good player.
"I'm in the fourth round. There's a long way to go."
Nadal will meet eighth-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina, who stopped Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-2, 6-4.
Fourth-seeded Andre Agassi also moved into the final eight on Thursday night, knocking off Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-2.
Agassi will face sixth-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, who overcame 11th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (0) in another match Thursday night.
The 35-year-old Agassi is a favourite here with the crowd and a favourite to advance to the final, despite his fourth-seeding.
"I've played No. 1 in the world tennis before and there wasn't a time when I ever felt like a favourite," Agassi said. "It was always a match at a time for me."
In other matches Thursday, Karol Beck of Slovakia continued playing the giant killer with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over fifth-seeded Nikolav Davydenko of Russia.
Beck had eliminated ninth-sseded David Nailbandian of Argentina on Wednesday. He'll next face France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Olivier Rochus of Belgium.
Mathieu also has an upset to his credit after having knocked out American Andy Roddick in the opening round.
Montreal native Greg Rudeski of Britain got past Croatia's Mar Ancic 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia defeated former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-4, 6-2.
