Rafael Nadal plays Grigor Dimitrov in China Open quarters

New Delhi: Former world number one Rafael Nadal on Thursday entered China Open quarter-final after surviving a tough second set against France`s Adrian Mannarino in Beijing.

The Spaniard took close to two hours to defeat the Frenchman in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6(6). He will play Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated another Frenchman Lucas Pouille in three grueling sets, 6(3)-7, 7-6(0), 6-4.

Nadal, 30, leads their ATP head to head rivalry 7-0, with four of those matches have gone to a deciding set. But the 2005 champion will be wary of the threat poses by the Bulgarian.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion is looking for his third ATP World Tour title of the season after clay-court crowns at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo and Barcelona.

Nadal, who finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic last year, remains one of the favourites to win the tournament. The world number one has pulled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. Second ranked Andy Murray, as usual, is another hot favourite.