Nadal v Hewitt Friday at ATP Queens

The top-seeded Nadal defeated Spanish countryman Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(3), while Hewitt was also forced to come back from a set down in a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) win over former doubles partner Max "The Beast" Mirnyi.

"It's a very difficult match," said Nadal, who beat Hewitt en route to the French Open title. "He's one of the best players on grass but I'm going to try my best. He has the pressure, for sure. I just want to enjoy it."

Other seeded winners into the quarterfinals were (3) Andy Roddick (d. Srichaphan), (5) James Blake (d. (9) Ginepri in three), (6) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez (d. Philippoussis), (13) Gael "Force" Monfils (d. (2) Ljubicic), and (15) Dmitry Tursunov (d. Wang 6-1 in the third).

Tursunov will next face Tim Henman, who he beat last year at Wimbledon, after the four-time All England Club semifinalist dismissed Nicolas Mahut in straight sets to gain the quarters.

"If I go out and play the way I have been, I think I've got a good chance of beating him," Henman said of Tursunov. "I do feel very confident about the way things have been going."

The only upset in doubles action Thursday were American wildcards James Blake and Mardy Fish surprising former Wimbledon champs and No. 5 seeds Stephen Huss and Weslie Moodie 6-4, 7-6(5).

Friday's quarterfinal line-up is (15) Tursunov vs. Henman, (1) Nadal vs. (8) Hewitt, (6) Gonzalez vs. (3) Roddick, and (5) Blake vs. (13) Monfils.

Nadal sees his match with Hewitt as more ways than one to improve his grasscourt acumen.

"It's very good for my confidence for Wimbledon," Nadal said. "Tomorrow I will play against one very good player on grass, so I will see his game. That's important for me to improve on grass. He plays not too much different to me but he also plays very well on this surface. So I need to see him so I can try to imitate him a little bit."