Rain has interrupted Rafael Nadal's path to the Artois Championships quarter-finals as the weather yet again intervened at Queen's Club. The top seeded Spaniard moved into a lead over Max Mirnyi of Belarus, leading 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 before the rain fell.

Fernando Gonzalez, the No 3 seed, displayed his usual ruthless efficiency in dispatching Robby Ginepri 6-2, 7-5, while Marin Cilic, conqueror of Tim Henman, beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Marat Safin, the eighth seed, took just four minutes to wrap up his second round match against Sebastien Grosjean 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The eighth seed won six straight points to complete a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win and later returned to face Ivo Karlovic, with the Croat leading 7-6 (7-3), 3-4 when the rain arrived.

Seventh seed Dmitry Tursunov edged past Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3.

Chilean Gonzalez's knack of grinding out such victories has ensured a rise to sixth in the world rankings but, while he may not catch the eye, he is undoubtedly a player of substance.

He reached the Australian Open final this year and was in peak form right from the start in west London. Gonzalez broke Ginepri in the third game and again in the seventh as he cruised through the first set.

Two poor forehands cost the American 15th seed his serve in the 11th game of the second set and Gonzalez finished the job to earn a tie against Dmitry Tursunov or Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Croatian wild card Cilic won the battle of the giant-killers as he beat French qualifier Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Cilic, 18, had admitted he was surprised to be given the chance to play Queen's but he has taken full advantage.

Tsonga started well as he punished a wayward service game from the teenager to break in the ninth game and then served out the first set.

Despite his tender years, Cilic is already a fierce competitor and he easily won the second set. Tsonga never recovered from that blow and after breaking in the fifth game of the final set, Cilic took complete control, ending up a convincing winner.