Spain's Rafael Nadal set up a likely quarterfinal clash with defending champion Novak Djokovic at the Rome Masters on Thursday after battling past Australian upstart Nick Kyrgios 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-4 in the third round.

Nadal, a seven-time winner in the Italian capital, was given plenty of food for thought during a tight opener that saw hard-hitting Kyrgios, who hit seven aces in the match, secure the first set on a tie break with a crisp cross-court winner.

But the Spaniard never looked to be really in trouble, and when wayward shots began creeping into Kyrgios's inconsistent game, the Spanish fifth seed took a firm grip.

He broke Kyrgios in the first game of the second set and never looked back on his way to a convincing win that could see him meet Djokovic in the last eight on Friday if the Serbian overcomes Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.

Djokovic came through a tough Madrid final against Britain's Andy Murray on Sunday and comes to Rome looking for a third consecutive, and fifth career title in the Italian capital.

His path could be eased by the absences of Swiss pair Roger Federer, a four-time finalist, and Stanislas Wawrinka, who was stopped at the semi-finals last year.

Federer's Rome Masters bid ended with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 third round defeat to Austrian 13th seed Dominic Thiem, while Wawrinka, the fourth seed who was stunned in the second round in Madrid last week by Kyrgios, was ousted by Argentina's Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-3.

Rome marks only the fourth tournament of the season for Federer, who underwent knee surgery in early February, the first operation of his career, and he pulled out of Madrid last week due to back pain.