Friday, June 16 2006 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Rafael Nadal worked for more than three hours on grass before finally overcoming fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3) to set up a quarter-final with Lleyton Hewitt at Queen's club on Thursday.

Andy Roddick, champion at the last three editions, fought off a spirited attack from top Thai Paradorn Srichaphan to advance into the last eight 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. He was joined by fellow American James Blake, who plays French hope Gael Monfils, who toppled second seed Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (13/11), 7-5.

Blake downed Robby Ginepri 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Double French Open champion Nadal took his time as he wore down 30th-ranked compatriot Verdasco, claiming victory on his third match point.

Verdasco, forced to qualify after missing the entry deadline, carried on despite being treated for back problems and also jolting his right knee after suffering a sliding fall in the final set.

Nadal beat Hewitt for the first time in four matches in the Roland Garros fourth round just over a week ago, but knows clay form doesn't count for much on grass.

After producing the best grass performance of his career, the 20-year-old world number two said he was not ready to consider anything but his Friday challenge.

"It will be a very, very tough match, Hewitt is one of the best on grass," said Nadal.

"I want to just play my best," he said.

"It will be good for my confidence for Wimbledon. I can't think of winning the tournament, only this next match," he said.

Hewitt, the Queen's holder from 2000-2002, came up with another trademark grinding comeback to squeeze into the last eight, beating Max Mirnyi 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).

"Even though grass isn't their favorite and best surface, these (Spanish) guys are class players and are able to play well," said the Australian who won Wimbledon in 2002.

"He's gonna be a tough match, it will be a totally different to Mirnyi today," he said.

Nadal had his troubles with Verdasco, whom he's now beaten all five times they have played.

"I'm playing the best I can," said the winner.

"I want to improve on grass. I like playing on it, but it's difficult for me to play rally well on it. I want to improve my game," he said.

Sixth seed Fernando Gonzalez ended the brief grass-court revival of struggling Mark Philippoussis as he defeated the Australian 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Philippoussis, the 2003 Wimbledon finalist whose ranking has sunk to 176, won two matches back-to-back this week for the first time in a year on Wednesday.

That reversal of fortune all came on the same day due to rain interruptions earlier in the week in west London.

The 29-year-old said that he is unsure if he is now on the short-list for precious Wimbledon wild card entry.

After receiving an email from the All England club informing him he was not getting one, the situation may have changed with his best performance in many months. Briton Tim Henman defeated Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-3, 6-4 to set up his third match this season with California-based Russian Dmitry Tursunov, who put out Yue-Tzoo Wang of Taiwan 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

The Russian owns a 3-0 mark in that series, with wins last year at Wimbledon and in Australia and Roland Garros this year against Henman.

Frenchman Gael Monfils upset second seed Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (13/11), 7-5 qhile James Blake beat fellow American Robby Ginepri 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.