Federer, Nadal reach Montreal quarter-finals

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal resumed their dominance at the top of tennis Thursday with the top two seeds powering into the quarter-finals of the Montreal Masters.

Number one Federer defeated countryman and good friend Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), while Nadal eased his mind with a second victory in 24 hours as his return after a knee injury gained traction 6-3, 6-2 over German Philipp Petzschner. Federer missed on four match points in the second-set tiebreaker, with Wawrinka ultimately getting a low volley at the net wrong to lose in just under two hours.

"It was a tense match, you can never tell until it's over," said Federer, who has won his last three tournaments. "Stan was serving really well. We played at a high level. It was a very equal match," said Federer, 42-6 on the season. "Stan had chances and played very well. But I served well when I needed to. I'm pleased to go through."

Federer next plays France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a winner over Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3.

It was all but effortless for Nadal, who last played on May 31.

"I said before the tournament that my goal here is only try to improve every day," said the four-time French Open winner. "I think that's what I'm doing. I'm very happy to be in the quarter-finals, it's more than I expected when I came here."

Nadal will face off Friday for a semi-final place against Argentine Juan Del Potro after the sixth seed rallied past Romanian Victor Hanescu 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Number three Andy Murray continued to push towards a shot at replacing Nadal at second in the world as the Scot manhandled Spanish veteran Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-1, 6-3.

Montreal marks the first time the top eight players in the world have reached the quarter-finals of the same tournament.