Nick Kyrgios knocks Federer out of Madrid Open

Greek-Australia  Nick Kyrgios has stunned top seed Roger Federer 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (14-12) to knock the Swiss star out of the Madrid Open.

Federer saved five match points on Wednesday night (Thursday morning AEST) before driving a forehand cross-court wide.

The 20-year-old Kyrgios won on his sixth match point while saving three Federer match-winning chances in their second round clash, which lasted two hours and 37 minutes.

Earlier, Rafael Nadal has returned to his claycourt comfort zone, starting his campaign for a fifth Madrid Open title with a 6-4 6-3 defeat of Steve Johnson.

The victory in 74 minutes lifted Nadal's clay record over Americans to a perfect 10-0 while the third seed improved to 12-3 on the surface this season.

The nine-time French Open champion has four Madrid titles and has played in six finals at his showcase home event.

He is aiming to extend his streak of winning at least one European ATP clay title leading into Roland Garros to 11 straight years.

Nadal goes on to face Italy's Simone Bolelli for a quarter-final spot.

"I think I played a solid match, I played the way I needed to to win that match. I know after a loss like Barcelona (third round) things are not easy when you're playing the next match," said Nadal.

"I tried to play the easiest way possible without trying very difficult shots, and trying to be better and better during the match."

Nadal was joined in the third round by sixth seed Tomas Berdych, who accounted for weekend Estoril winner Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7-3) 7-5.

Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4 6-0 and Madrid's Fernando Verdasco knocked out US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Bulgarian tenth seed Grigor Dimitrov came back to beat Italian Fabio Fognini 3-6 6-2 7-5 while No.12 Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat American Jack Sock 6-3 1-6 7-6 (7-4).

John Isner, the 16th seed, fired 23 aces to defeat Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (11-13) 6-1.