Rafael Nadal safely booked his passage into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters as he saw off Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 in just under an hour and 15 minutes. The World No.5 started brightly with his forehand in particular doing damage down the line to the Youzhny backhand and he broke the Russian to move 2-1 in front in the first set. Another blistering forehand down the line opened up another two break points for the Spaniard with Youzhny serving at 2-4 and a cute drop shot at the net secured the double break before two big serves closed out the set in the next game.

Eleven-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal is hoping that a return to the traditional red clay at the Madrid Masters this week will help him continue his successful comeback from injury. Nadal was one of the fiercest critics of the blue clay which was used at last year's tournament and even threatened at the time to pull out of this year's event if the red clay wasn't returned. However, after a complete overhaul of the courts for 2013, the World No.5 believes the surfaces at Caja Magica are in better condition than they ever were.

International Sports Desk, Apr 30 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal will play in the event in Basel, the hometown of Swiss tennis great Roger Federer, this year, tournament organizers said. The 26-year-old Nadal, an 11-time Grand Slam champion, has not played in the Swiss Indoors in nine years. The hardcourt tournament, which will take place Oct. 19-27, will feature Federer, Nadal and defending champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina. Nadal lost in the first round both times that he played the event in Basel.

Rafael Nadal extended his record number of Barcelona titles to eight as he brushed off a slow start to beat Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday. Last weekend's Monte Carlo runner-up regained his accustomed position on an ATP winner's podium with his fourth title of 2013 and his third on clay for the year. He rallied from two breaks down on a day of drizzle and heavy conditions, beating Almagro for the tenth time without defeat.