Rafael Nadal has made it through to the quarter-finals of the ongoing Barcelona Open after shocking fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3 6-3 in a match that was interrupted by heavy rain for about 45 minutes.
After a shaky display in the second round against Leonardo Mayer, Nadal was far better from the outset against Ferrer and he broke his fellow compatriot in the sixth game of the match to take a 4-2 lead.
Play was then halted for 45 minutes at 5-3 to Nadal due to rain but upon resumption, the top seed won the first set with a forehand winner.
Nadal broke Ferrer to start the second set but the 35-year old, who was playing for the final time in Barcelona, hit back to level the set at 2-2.
However, Nadal was not to be denied and he won four of the last five games to win the match and secured his place in the last eight.
Nadal has been nursing a wrist injury he suffered in the second round of Barcelona Open against Leonardo Mayer and there has been fear that he might miss the match against Ferrer, but that was not to be as he defied all odds to put up a stern challenge against him and sealed his place in the last eight.
