The Spaniard will next play 2018 champion Zverev or Evans Rafael Nadal continued his chase for a record-extending sixth Mutua Madrid Open title on Thursday, beating Aussie Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. "It was difficult. The court today was slippery, it was very fast, very dry conditions. The ball was flying a lot. The beginning of the match was super tough," Nadal said in his on-court interview. "He was hitting every ball and hitting the spots. Very happy with the victory. It was an important victory, he came here playing well. Every match is tough." This is the top seed's 15th trip to the last eight in the Spanish capital; the last time he didn't make it this far was 2012. Nadal will next play 2018 champion Alexander Zverev or tricky Briton Daniel Evans, who upset World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte-Carlo.