Rafael Nadal stepped closer to a record 35th Masters 1000 title on Thursday, dispatching Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-3, 6-4 Thursday to power into the ATP Montreal quarter-finals.

The Spanish world number two has now notched the most wins in the elite series, with his 379th Master’s victory surpassing Roger Federer by one.

Nadal, an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion, could add another Masters footnote to his epic resume if he successfully defends his Canadian crown for the all-time trophy mark.

He ended the evening with an ace out wide on his fourth match point, moving into his ninth Canadian quarter-final.

Nadal will play Friday for a semi-final berth against Italy’s Fabio Fognini after the seventh seed beat France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 7-5.

The victory came in blustery conditions, which Nadal said were not a huge bother. He made good on an impossible sky hook reverse overhead at one point in the contest.

“It was a tough day in terms of wind, but we are used to playing like this,” he said. “It can be beautiful to play in tough conditions. The player with more options has a better chance to survive.”

Dominic Thiem reached the last eight by defeating Croatia’s Marin Cilic 7-6 (9/7), 6-4, the Austrian’s second victory in two days after waiting five years to break his duck in Canada. Second seed Thiem, who ousted home hope Denis Shapovalov on Wednesday, faced two break points in the final game against the 2014 US Open champion before