Top-seeded Rafael Nadal [Images] of Spain moved into the quarter-finals of the $2.45-million (1.35 million pound) Montreal Masters on Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sebastien Grosjean of France [Images].

The 19-year-old Nadal, winner of eight tournaments this season, is looking for his first career hardcourt victory and looked impressive against Grosjean despite playing a late match on Wednesday night due to rain.

He lost the first game of the opening set and then trailed 15-40 in the second game but rallied to tie the match and wasn't in any real difficulty at any point after that.

"I'm happy," Nadal said after the match. "I played a good match and beat a very good player.

"I'm in the fourth round. There's a long way to go."

Nadal will meet eighth-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina, who stopped Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-2, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Andre Agassi [Images] also moved into the final eight on Thursday night, knocking off Germany's [Images] Nicolas Kiefer [Images] 6-4, 6-2.

Agassi will face sixth-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, who overcame 11th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (0) in another match Thursday night.

The 35-year-old Agassi is a favourite here with the crowd and a favourite to advance to the final, despite his fourth-seeding.

"I've played No. 1 in the world tennis before and there wasn't a time when I ever felt like a favourite," Agassi said. "It was always a match at a time for me."

In other matches Thursday, Karol Beck of Slovakia continued playing the giant killer with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over fifth-seeded Nikolav Davydenko of Russia [Images].

Beck had eliminated ninth-sseded David Nailbandian of Argentina on Wednesday. He'll next face France's Paul-Henri Mathieu, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Olivier Rochus of Belgium.

Mathieu also has an upset to his credit after having knocked out American Andy Roddick [Images] in the opening round.

Montreal native Greg Rudeski of Britain got past Croatia's Mar Ancic 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia defeated former French Open [Images] champion Juan Carlos Ferrero [Images] of Spain 6-4, 6-2.

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