Britain's Andy Murray reached the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters yesterday after struggling past big-serving Croatian Marin Cilic 7-5, 7-6.

However defending champion David Nalbandian of Argentina was easily dethroned 4-6, 2-6 by compatriot Juan Martin del Potro, who is on course for a last-eight meeting with Roger Federer.

Fourth seed Murray started slowly, was broken early and was staring down the barrel in the ninth game of the opening set as Cilic held three set points.

But the Scot roared back with some brave play and helped by some nervous looking shots from the 1.98m Croatian, broke back and then broke again to take the set two games later.

Murray served for the match at 5-3 in the second but Cilic broke back and took it to the tiebreak before the Scot raced away 7-2 to book a place against either US eighth seed Andy Roddick or France's Gael Monfils.

Ninth seed Del Potro, chasing his fifth title of the year, dispatched Nalbandian in just 85 minutes.

Losing the first set 4-6 was something of a recovery by Nalbandian after del Potro had stolen his first two service games for a 3-0 lead, but in the second set he was simply overpowered.

In the first match of the day, French world No. 16 Gilles Simon came back from two match points down to beat Robby Ginepri 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 in an enthralling 2 hour 36 minute duel against the American qualifier ranked 63 in the world.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October 17, 2008)