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Nadal overcame a number 171 Russian playing in only his 10th ATP- level match, defeating Mikhail Ledovskikh 6-4, 6-0.

 Also advancing along with the 2006 champion were compatriots David Ferrer, who rallied from a set and a break down against Olivier Rochus to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-1, and unseeded Feliciano Lopez, a winner over eighth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-5.

 Number three Novak Djokovic played patiently against the crafty shot-making attack of 35-year-old Fabrice Santoro to squeeze out a 6- 3, 7-6 (7-3) decision.

 The win earned revenge for a loss to the Frenchman at Paris Bercy last November as the Australian Open champion duplicated his Dubai quarter-final from 2007.

 "I started well," said Djokovic, who lost just two points on serve in the opener. "I remembered how quickly I lost to him out last time.

 "I felt 100 per-cent fit. I stayed patient, calm and aggressive at the same time. The important thing is to wait for him.

 "He has no huge weapons, but he's a magician with the racket. The match can turn any second with him."

   Russian Igor Andreev, known as a clay-court specialist, excelled on the hardcourt over French seventh seed Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-4.

 Sixth seed Andy Roddick booked into the last eight over Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-3, 6-4.

 Nadal took his Dubai record to 10-2 as he beat his Russian qualifier opponent, who fired eight aces.

 "Once I was finally able to break in the first set, I felt more confidence," said "Qualifiers are always tough to play in the early rounds.

 "I felt my game was much better than in the first round, my confidence is building and Im happy to be in the quarters."

   Ferrer, seeded fourth, and lefthander Lopez will play on Friday.

 Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Murray set up a quarter-final with the Russian easing through as the Scot struggled.

 Fifth-seeded Davydenko crushed Czech Jan Hernych 6-1, 6-4. But Murray was pushed before finally overcoming fighting Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) in a clash lasting nearly two and a half hours.

 Davydenko won his fourth match out of six meetings with Henrych, beating the qualifier ranked 188th in a comfortable easy 72 minutes.

 Murray had to overcome poor form 48 hours after upsetting Roger Federer in the opening round.

 "This was a completely different match," he said after improving his 2008 record to 12-2 with titles in Doha and Marseille. "Against Federer, I was not expected to win.

 "Today, I was expecting myself to win and play well. I definitely could have lost this match.

 "It was important to just come through."

   The Scot went up a break, 4-2 in the final set, but lost it a game later. He received a code violation for hitting a ball out of the stadium in anger, but that only galvanised his final push.

 The unseeded Murray, 11th in the world, grabbed a 5-2 lead in the deciding tiebreaker, but had to come through for victory on his fourth and final match point after a long duel which ended as Verdasco, put a forehand out.

 "This was the first lefty I've played in maybe three months," said Murray. "I had to get used to the spin. It was definitely a struggle, I'm just happy that I won."

By Bill Scott, dpa