Nadal was back to his best on Thursday as he beat his friend David Ferrer 6-3 6-3.
And the 11-time Barcelona Open champion was pleased with the better attitude he brought to the court.
“[There] was a big difference,” Nadal said.
“It was a tough match in all ways yesterday. Today was a different energy, different motivation.
“In general terms, for me, I needed to play with a different attitude to make a step forward and that’s what I did today.”
RAFAEL NADAL VS JAN-LENNARD STRUFF LIVE
FIRST SET
*Nadal 5-4 Struff
Struff opens the game with another backhand winner. But he just misses on a cross-court backhand which would have given him two break points, 30-30.
Nadal stops Struff’s run to force his opponent to serve out the match.
Nadal 4-4 Struff*
Good serving from Struff and he’s now won 12 of the last 13 points. Game on Pista Rafa Nadal.
*Nadal 4-3 Struff
Big chance for Struff as errors from Nadal give him three break points.
Nadal saves the first. But a great return from Struff forces another error from Nadal and the set is back on serve.
Nadal 4-2 Struff*
Good response from Struff as he holds to 15. Needs to make an impact on Nadal’s serve now.
*Nadal 4-1 Struff
Nadal looks bang in form at the moment. And that’s shown as he cracks a cross court backhand for a winner, 30-0.
Struff nets a backhand and Nadal consolidates the break. Nadal’s lost just two points on serve.
Nadal 3-1 Struff*
A chance for Nadal as Struff attempts to serve and volley but he puts the volley wide, 15-30.
A huge slice of luck for Nadal as his backhand clips the top of the net and flies past Struff. Break point. Big serve from Struff sees out the danger.
Struff goes long with a backhand, second break point.
Stunning forehand return from Nadal catches the baseline and gives him the break. Brilliant.
*Nadal 2-1 Struff
A forehand into the net from Struff concedes the game to Nadal as the serve continues to dominate.
Nadal 1-1 Struff*
And Struff responds with his own love service hold.
*Nadal 1-0 Struff
Comfortable love to hold for Nadal to start the match.
15:20: It is all over on Pista Rafa Nadal as Nishikori comes through 6-4 7-5 over Carballes Baena. Nadal and Struff will be one next…
15:15: Nishikori breaks Carballes Baena and will serve for the match.
14:41: Carballes Baena has had to save several break points in the second set and he leads 3-2 on serve.
14:15: Nishikori won the first set 6-4 against Carballes Baena.
14:00: Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Rafael Nadal’s quarter-final clash against Jan-Lennard Struff at the Barcelona Open.
This match will start after Roberto Carballes Baena vs Kei Nishikori finishes.