BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) _ Rafael Nadal overpowered Italy's Potito Starace 6-1, 6-3 Thursday to become the fourth Spaniard to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Buenos Aires tournament.
The seventh-seeded Nadal, playing for the first time at the outdoor clay event at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, used powerful drives to beat his Italian foe during a match halted more than an hour by rain.
Top-seeded Carlos Moya and unseededs Juan Monaco and Felix Mantilla reached the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Nadal said he had to focus on not losing his edge during the rain delay. Sporadic thunderstorms repeatedly disrupted the competition this week.
``It's always a problem to have to stop for rain but one gets used to it,'' the 18-year-old Nadal said. ``Luckily, I was able to keep my pace going.''
In an earlier second-round match, Jose Acasuso of Argentina beat Spain's Guillermo Garcia Lopez 6-4, 6-3.
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