Estoril, Apr 16: Nadal now faces France's Richard Gasquet, another 17-year-old on the rise, who outlasted Chile's second seed Nicolas Massu, 0-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4).
"He's one of the strongest opponents in the draw," said the French player, who beat Massu for the second time this season after winning in Buenos Aires in February - also on clay.
"It will be a great match, I'm looking forward to it."
Gasquet said that sheer embarrassment drove him on after a dismal opening set.
"I didn't want to love love-love," he said. "But I started hitting better and getting the ball onto the court - suddenly everything changed."


The match, which ran to three hours, stretched to a concluding tie-breaker, with Gasquet holding on as Massu charged from 1-4 down in the decider.


But the French teen survived with a backhand winner for three match points and wrapped up victory when Massu produced a mis-hit to lose.

Bureau Report