A blockbuster Doha quarterfinal between Rafael Nadal and Ernests Gulbis is on tap for Thursday. One of the only two remaining seeds will advance to the semis. Hasan Murad previews the action.

Rafael Nadal and Ernests Gulbis will battle against each other for the second time at this very same stage of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open when they collide during quarterfinal action on Thursday.

Nadal won their previous Doha encounter 7-6(3), 6-3 in 2011.  Overall, this will be the seventh installment (fourth on a hard court) of their rivalry, which has been perfectly dominated by Nadal. Interestingly, however, that 2011 Doha collision is the only one of the Spaniard’s six victories over Gulbis that has ended in straight sets.

In his two victories so far this week over Lukas Rosol and Tobias Kamke, Nadal was far from his best in every facet of his game. The top seed, though, is…