The eight-time winner became just the 11th man to crack 300
wins on clay. The last to do it was Spaniard Carlos Moya in 2007.
Nadal began his formidable run on the surface with his first
clay win in 2002 and has not looked back since. At the top of the all-time
table in the victory category is Argentine Guillermo Vilas, who ended his
career standing 644-183 on the surface.
Spaniard Nadal had a few spots of bother against Italy's Andreas
Seppi, with the world No.1 forced to save five break points in the sixth game
of the opening set for a 5-1 lead.
In the second set, Nadal dropped serve to love while leading 4-2. But he pulled it straight back for 5-3 and finished off the victory in 93 minutes.
Second seed and titleholder Novak Djokovic, who beat Nadal
for the 2013 title, will face Spain's
Pablo Carreno Busta later on Thursday while fourth seed Roger Federer will play
Czech Lukas Rosol.
Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka earned a free trip into the
quarter-finals when Spain's
Nicolas Almagro retired before their third-round match with a foot injury.
Australian Open winner Wawrinka, seeded third, on Friday
will face off against Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic, who beat 11th-seeded
Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-4 6-3.
Wawrinka has beaten Raonic in their previous meetings, in
2012 and 2013, on hardcourt.
Almagro said he was unable to walk after waking with pain in
his foot.
"After consulting with the doctor for a long time this
morning, we decided together that it was better for me not to play.
"I deeply regret this because I was expecting a lot
from this tournament that I like so much," he said in a statement.
French hero Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrated his 29th birthday
with a win in controversial circumstances over flamboyant Italian Fabio Fognini,
as he defeated the volatile 10th seed 5-7 6-3 6-0.
Fognini toughed out the opening set but was unable to hang
on as he lost the second.
In the third, the Italian was jeered by a crowd who had
largely been in his favour as he appeared not to be trying, winning just four
points in the final set and letting loose with a string of expletives in
moments of frustration.
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