Rafael Nadal reached the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday after overcoming the spirited Dominic Thiem. Randy Moss Youth Jersey . The fifth seeded Spaniard took command after a fiercely contested first set and sealed a confidence boosting 7-5 6-3 win over Thiem.Nadal had suffered defeat to Thiem earlier this year and his serve was given a stern examination by the 22-year-old Austrian from the start, with the Spaniard forced to save 15 break points on his way to victory. It was my best match on clay this year, Nadal said. I played a good match, in terms of level of tennis, it was great I think.In terms of fighting spirit and attitude and being ready to accept the mistakes, the good points, the tough moments, it was a similar way that I played in Indian Wells [where he reached the semi-finals]. Rafael Nadal will face Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of Monte Carlo Masters It was a great continuation against a very tough player. I think he played a great match, too. It was a very good victory for me, Im very happy for that.The 14-time Grand Slam winner will now face No 4 seed Stan Wawrinka.The Swiss player advanced to the quarters with a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory over Frenchman Gilles Simon. Elsewhere, Roger Federer booked his spot in the final eight after a routine 6-2 6-4 win against Roberto Bautista Agut. Roger Federer also advanced in Monte Carlo The Swiss only recently recovered from knee surgery after injuring himself off-court after a semi-final defeat at the Australian Open but he feels he is returning to full fitness.Im getting closer to the peak in the sense of maximum movement against the best players on a tough surface, said Federer.Everything thats going on right now at this tournament is great. I can rest for the next couple of weeks anyway.Even if I get a setback of a couple of days that the knee is not well, you rest it, take up training, take as much time as you need. I feel like Im in a great place right now.Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals:Gael Monfils v Marcel GranollersRoger Federer v Jo-Wilfried TsongaRafael Nadal v Stan WawrinkaMilos Raonic v Andy MurrayWatch live action from the Monte Carlo Masters on Sky Sports 1 HD from 10am on Friday. Also See: Murray battles past Paire Vesely stuns Djokovic Alan Page Jersey . The league announced Thursday that Tom Higgins is leaving that post effective immediately. Chris Doleman Womens Jersey . Not sure yet. #livetweetingthegreatuntangle — Strombone (@strombone1) April 17, 2014 Stage three, coping: I feel like I could use a cigarette or something. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/John-randle-vikings-jersey/ . Now, Sarah Burkes legacy will live on in Canadas Sports Hall of Fame. Burke, who tragically died at age 29 from a training accident in 2012, headlined the 2014 class named for induction Wednesday.PHILADELPHIA -- Jonathon Niese stayed warm, and the surprising New York Mets cooled off Philadelphia. Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. Ruben Tejada doubled and had two RBIs for the Mets, who chased Cole Hamels in the fifth and have won seven of nine. They improved to 15-11 overall, marking the first time New York has been four games over .500 since July 14, 2012. "Conditions are really tough and Jon just keeps cruising along," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You have to be pretty impressed with the way hes going about it. He used all of his pitches. It seemed like he had good command of his curveball even though it was wet. ... He went out and pitched another great game." Marlon Byrd homered and Ryan Howard had two hits with a double for Philadelphia, which lost for only the third time in nine games. The start was delayed by rain for 1 hour, 28 minutes, and the temperature at first pitch was a chilly 46 degrees. Many in the announced crowd of 28,189 who braved the cold were dressed more appropriately for a Philadelphia Eagles football game in December, with hooded sweat shirts, winter coats and wool blankets. There was a misty rain for the first 2 1/2 innings before heavy rain began to fall in the bottom of the third. The rain tapered off to a drizzle before becoming heavy again in the seventh. The weather hardly affected Niese (2-2), who didnt allow a hit until Byrds two-out homer in the fourth. The left-hander gave up four hits while striking out five and walking one. "It was another cold one," Niese said, "but it seems like the more I pitch in cold weather, the more I figure out how to stay warm." Niese sat near a heater in the Mets dugout and kept his hands in his jacket pockets, which contained hand warmers. While on the mound, Niese said he made sure to move around constantly rather than stand still. "I was able to effectively throw my pitches," he said. Said Murphy, "He threw the ball great. It was a treat to watch from second base." Hamels (0-2) struggled in his first home start of the season, allowing six runs on eight hitss with five walks and a hit batter in 4 2-3 innings. Fran Tarkenton Youth Jersey. Seeking his 100th career victory, Hamels lost the strike zone in the fourth when he walked four batters, including Niese with the bases loaded, as the Mets took a 3-0 lead. Hamels was making his second start of the season after opening on the disabled list due to left biceps tendinitis. The leftys ERA rose to 6.75 as he dropped to 2-8 in his last 10 home starts against the Mets. Murphy had a two-out RBI single in the third, and Josh Satin singled home a run in the fourth. "Ive never seen Cole be that erratic, and Im sure a lot of that was the conditions," Collins said. "Its early in the year and he missed a lot of spring training. Hell be fine, Im sure." Hamels said the conditions made it difficult to pitch but blamed himself for not being able to adjust better. "The elements got the best of me today," he said. "From my standpoint, Im truly embarrassed because I didnt really give anyone a chance." Hamels said a lack of perspiration made gripping the ball difficult. "When youre able to perspire, youre able to get certain types of grips with the baseball," he said, before joking: "Today might have been the day to use pine tar, but unfortunately I dont do that. It might have been the day to learn. It was difficult to throw the baseball and difficult to throw strikes. You have to be able to battle out there, and I wasnt able to do it." Byrds homer pulled the Phillies to 3-1, but New York chased Hamels when it got an RBI double from Chris Young and a two-run single from Tejeda to make it 6-1 in the fifth. NOTES: Mets starters have given up more than three runs once in the last 13 games. ... Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 games. ... Mets RHP Bartolo Colon (2-3, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Kyle Kendrick (0-2, 3.52) in the conclusion of the two-game series Wednesday night. ... During the rain delay, the Phillies showed Game 6 of the NHL playoff series between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers on the scoreboard and rang the bell in centre field traditionally rung for home runs when Wayne Simmonds scored a first-period goal to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. ' ' '