Nadal, Robredo, Nalbandian in Action Thursday in Barcelona

Seven of the Top eight seeds will contend for quarterfinals spots Thursday in Barcelona, led by top seed and two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal. Other past Barcelona winners in third round action include No. 16 seed Carlos Moya, who takes on fourth seed David Nalbandian, and third seed Tommy Robredo, who faces off against No. 15 seed Agustin Calleri.

Fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer leads off third round action on Pista Central Court in his first career meeting against Serbian qualifier Boris Pashanski. Ferrer, 25, has a 21-8 season record and won his third career title – also his only hard court title – earlier this year in Auckland (d. Robredo). The Valencia resident is attempting to reach the quarterfinals or better for the fifth time this season. He has a 4-4 record in Barcelona, with his previous best finishes third round showings in 2005 and ‘06. Pashanski, 24, has a 2-2 record in 2007, picking up both his wins this week (Carlos Berlocq, Andrei Pavel). He reached three ATP-level quarterfinals last year, all during the Latin American clay court swing.

Top seed Rafael Nadal brings his record 68-match clay court winning streak into his third round match against Swede Thomas Johansson, whom he defeated 6-2, 6-4 in their only previous meeting in 2005 in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters Series event in Miami. Nadal has a 23-5 season record and won the ATP Masters Series titles at Indian Wells (d. Djokovic) and Monte-Carlo (d. Federer). The Mallorcan, who is attempting to become the second player in tournament history to win three consecutive Barcelona titles (Mats Wilander, 1982-84), has a 12-1 event record with his only loss coming to countryman Alex Corretja in the second round in 2003. Johansson, 32, improved to a 13-10 season mark after upsetting compatriot and No. 13 seed Robin Soderling in the second round. He has a 5-2 lifetime record in Barcelona, and reached the third round in his last event appearance in 2005 (l. to Davydenko). He advanced to his only quarterfinal this season in February at Zagreb, a 7-6(10), 6-7(10), 7-6(4) loss to Ivan Ljubicic.

Argentine David Nalbandian, the No. 4 seed, faces off against 2003 winner and No. 16 seed Carlos Moya of Palma de Mallorca. The two have split their previous four meetings – all which have come on clay – with Moya winning their last encounter in the 2004 ATP Masters Series Rome final. Nalbandian, 25, has a 2007 win-loss record of 8-8 and is attempting to reach his first quarterfinal this year. He is making his fourth event appearance and reached the quarterfinals in 2004 (l. to Vliegen). Moya, 30, has a 17-9 season mark with runner-up showings in Sydney (l. to Blake) and Acapulco (l. to Chela), and has a 32-10 record in Barcelona. He also finished as runner-up in 2001 (l. to Ferrero).

In the final singles match on Pista Central, No. 3 seed and 2004 champion Tommy Robredo takes a 3-2 series lead into his third round match against No. 15 seed Agustin Calleri of Argentina. The two have split their four matches on clay, but Robredo defeated Calleri in January in the Auckland semifinals. Robredo, 24, has a 16-8 season record. He finished as runner-up in Auckland in January, and has appeared in three other quarterfinals, including the Australian Open (l. to Federer). Robredo has a 17-7 record in his hometown tournament and was a finalist last year. The 30-year-old Calleri has a 10-6 season record. In addition to Auckland, he reached the semifinals in Acapulco and the quarterfinals in Costa do Sauipe. Calleri advanced to the Barcelona semifinals in 2003 (l. to Moya), and followed the next two years with quarterfinal finishes.