Rafael Nadal knows all about successful transitions. Nadal has achieved the rare feat of winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon in succession in 2008 and 2010.

The king of clay says one element will empower him as he transitions to US Open Series hard courts: more matches.

Watch: Stan The Man Making Magic Again

The top-seeded Nadal edged nemesis Stan Wawrinka in a high-quality, 7-5, 7-6 (4), triumph in Toronto on Thursday night to advance to the Rogers Cup quarterfinals.

The Spanish left-hander said he's feeling more self-assured with each passing match on hard court.

"I know Stan already won two great matches in this tournament, so I know it will be a good challenge, and that's what of course it was like this, no?" Nadal told the media in Toronto. "So after that, I feel happy because it was only the second match after the period outside and played, in my opinion, well and it give me the chance to play again tomorrow.

"And that's what I need today, no? Matches, spend hours on court. And I know I am playing well since I came back from the injury, on clay, on grass. And I need to play well now on hard again, no? So let's make that happen."

The 17-time Grand Slam champion will try to make it happen against 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in tonight's quarterfinals. Nadal has won five of their seven meetings, but Cilic prevailed in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January when the Spanish left-hander retired down 0-2 in the fifth set.

"I'm very pleased, no?" Nadal said after out-dueling Wawrinka.  "That's what I needed, a match like this, to be a little bit more confident, and I did. So just happy to be in the quarterfinals already. And tomorrow another opportunity to play against a big opponent like Marin."

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve