(CNN) -- Defending champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova moved into quarterfinals of their respective tournaments in Barcelona and Stuttgart Thursday as the build-up to next month's French Open gathers pace.

Nadal is coming off a shock loss at the Monte Carlo Masters -- losing there for only the third time in 11 years -- but has showed little sign of an adverse reaction in his two matches to date on home clay.

The world number one duly beat Ivan Dodig of Croatia 6-3 6-3 to earn a last eight clash against fellow Nicolas Almagro.

Fellow Spaniard Almagro lost to Nadal in last year's final but earned his passage with a 6-3 6-3 success over Fernando Verdasco in another domestic clash.

Nadal has won the title eight years out of nine in Barcelona and his passage to a ninth title has been eased by the shock exit of David Ferrer Wednesday to Teymeraz Gabashvili.

It was second seed Ferrer who scored a rare win over his compatriot in Monte Carlo but he was unable to repeat this form against Gabashvili, who then secured his place in the last eight with a straight sets win over Inigo Cervantes.

In other third round matches, 12th seed Marin Cilic of Croatia beat Spanish fifth seed Tommy Robredo 7-5 6-7 7-6, while Colombia's Santiago Giraldo saw off Dominic Thiem of Austria in another three-setter.

Sharapova, who is returning to her best after injury, is the two-time defending champion on the red clay of Stuttgart and showed evidence of that class with a 6-4 6-3 over fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in one hour 32 minutes.

Answer this series of questions:

1. Who was injured?
2. Who won the title more often than not?
3. When is the French Open?
4. When were the matches won for the finals?
5. Who had a rare win?
6. Where was it?
7. Did he gain another win?
8. Who beat him?
9. Was there a three setter?
10. Who had a surprise loss?
11. Did it affect his play?
1. Maria Sharapova
2. Rafael Nadal
3. next month
4. Barcelona and Stuttgart
5. Ferrer
6. Monte Carlo
7. he was unable
8. Gabashvili
9. yes
10. Rafael Nadal
11. but has showed little sign of an adverse reaction