BARCELONA (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal gave a much improved performance to advance into the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday, dispatching Spanish compatriot and crowd favorite David Ferrer 6-3 6-3.

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP 1000 - Monte Carlo Masters - Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - April 20, 2019 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action during his semi final match against Italy's Fabio Fognini REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

Nadal will meet Jan-Lennard Struff in the last eight after the German claimed his second big scalp of the week by overcoming last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 6-2 after knocking out 10th seed David Goffin the day before.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori eased into the last eight with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Felix Auger Aliassime and will play the only other remaining Spaniard in the tournament Roberto Carballes Baena who saw off Chilean Christian Garin in straight sets.

World number two and 11-times Barcelona champion Nadal had produced a scrappy display against Leonardo Mayer on Wednesday, losing a set for the first time in four years at the tournament, but he showed more spark and composure against Ferrer.

Nadal broke the 37-year-old Ferrer, who will retire from the game next month after the Madrid Open, in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead in the opener but play was halted due to rain with the score at 5-3.

Nadal promptly saw out the set when play resumed and broke Ferrer in the first game of the second but then lost a service game, which made it 2-2.

The Mallorcan broke again and then took a 5-3 lead, spurning three match points due to two marginal calls which left him visibly annoyed with the line judge.

Nadal finally closed the match out at the fourth opportunity as Ferrer could only find the net.

TRIBUTES FOR FERRER

Nadal led fans in applauding Ferrer as the defeat signaled his last appearance at the Barcelona Open.

“Losing to Rafa makes me proud, I’m happy with the game as I did what I could, I gave everything I had but I tip my hat to Rafa,” Ferrer said.

“It was difficult, I started well but the court was slower when the rain started coming down, that damaged me but I still played a competitive game.”

Nadal paid tribute to Ferrer, who he beat in the 2013 French Open final, and was pleased with his own display.

“It’s his decision but on a tennis level he doesn’t have to retire, he’s struggled with injuries but he is playing very well this year. After all his years fighting and giving us all joy he deserves the reception he got,” Nadal said.

“I had to improve on yesterday, not just the result but overall. This was important for David but for me it was important to do better and play with more energy than yesterday I did that so I can go back to my hotel feeling much happier.”

Chilean Nicolas Jarry, who beat highly-fancied world number three Alexander Zverev already this week, claimed another high-profile victory by beating Grigor Dimitrov 2-6 6-4 7-6(2).

Jarry will face Daniil Medvedev of Russia while third seed Dominic Thiem will play against Argentine Guido Pella after the Austrian enjoyed a comfortable straight-sets win over Spaniard Jaume Munar.