Rafael Nadal reached the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday after overcoming the spirited Dominic Thiem. The fifth seeded Spaniard took command after a fiercely contested first set and sealed a confidence boosting 7-5 6-3 win over Thiem.Nadal had suffered defeat to Thiem earlier this year and his serve was given a stern examination by the 22-year-old Austrian from the start, with the Spaniard forced to save 15 break points on his way to victory. It was my best match on clay this year, Nadal said. I played a good match, in terms of level of tennis, it was great I think.In terms of fighting spirit and attitude and being ready to accept the mistakes, the good points, the tough moments, it was a similar way that I played in Indian Wells [where he reached the semi-finals]. Rafael Nadal will face Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of Monte Carlo Masters It was a great continuation against a very tough player. I think he played a great match, too. It was a very good victory for me, Im very happy for that.The 14-time Grand Slam winner will now face No 4 seed Stan Wawrinka.The Swiss player advanced to the quarters with a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory over Frenchman Gilles Simon. Elsewhere, Roger Federer booked his spot in the final eight after a routine 6-2 6-4 win against Roberto Bautista Agut. Roger Federer also advanced in Monte Carlo The Swiss only recently recovered from knee surgery after injuring himself off-court after a semi-final defeat at the Australian Open but he feels he is returning to full fitness.Im getting closer to the peak in the sense of maximum movement against the best players on a tough surface, said Federer.Everything thats going on right now at this tournament is great. I can rest for the next couple of weeks anyway.Even if I get a setback of a couple of days that the knee is not well, you rest it, take up training, take as much time as you need. I feel like Im in a great place right now.Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals:Gael Monfils v Marcel GranollersRoger Federer v Jo-Wilfried TsongaRafael Nadal v Stan WawrinkaMilos Raonic v Andy MurrayWatch live action from the Monte Carlo Masters on Sky Sports 1 HD from 10am on Friday. Also See: Murray battles past Paire Vesely stuns Djokovic Connor McGovern Womens Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Robert Newhouse Womens Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.shoptheofficialcowboys.com/Elite-Tony-Pollard-Cowboys-Jersey/ . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Leighton Vander Esch Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Terrell Owens Youth Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Will Muschamp says freshman tight end Robert Tucker III is giving up football due to medical concerns.Muschamp said Tuesday that the 6-foot-3, 238-pound player from Atlanta, Georgia, met with a spinal specialist after having some numbness in his neck. Muschamp says the conclusion after the exam was that Tucker needs to give the game up to keep something more serious from occurring.The coach says Tucker will remain in school and invoolved in the athletic department in some capacity, possibly with the football team.dddddddddddd.Tucker had not played this season. He caught 16 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns in eight games as a senior at B.E.S.T. Academy in Atlanta. Tucker signed with South Carolina in February.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '