BARCELONA, Spain — David Nalbandian has advanced to the Barcelona Open quarterfinals by defeating Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-3, 6-4 Thursday.

The seventh-seeded Argentine broke Almagro four times and won 25 of his 32 first service points on the clay surface.

Nalbandian could next face Rafael Nadal, who is going for his fifth straight Barcelona title. The top-ranked Spaniard plays 61st-ranked Christophe Rochus of Belgium on Thursday.

Ninth-seeded Radek Stepanek also reached the quarterfinals, stopping Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-4, 1-6, 7-5.