BEIJING, Oct. 17 -- Britain's Andy Murray reached the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters Thursday after struggling past big-serving Croatian Marin Cilic 7-5, 7-6. 

Andy Murray of Britain reacts to a point against Rafael Nadal of Spain during the conclusion of their rain-delayed semi-final match at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows in New York Sept. 7, 2008.

However defending champion David Nalbandian of Argentina was easily dethroned 4-6, 2-6 by compatriot Juan Martin del Potro, who is on course for a last-eight meeting with Roger Federer.

Fourth seed Murray started slowly, was broken early and was staring down the barrel in the ninth game of the opening set as Cilic held three set points.

But the Scot roared back with some brave play and helped by some nervous looking shots from the 1.98m Croatian, broke back and then broke again to take the set two games later.

Murray served for the match at 5-3 in the second but Cilic broke back and took it to the tiebreak before the Scot raced away 7-2 to book a place against either US eighth seed Andy Roddick or France's Gael Monfils.

Ninth seed Del Potro, chasing his fifth title of the year, dispatched Nalbandian in just 85 minutes.

Argentina's David Nalbandian reacts after winning a point against Russia's Igor Andreev during their World Group Davis Cup semi-final tennis match in Buenos Aires, Sept. 19, 2008.

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