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Sydneysider Jordan Thompson was looking forward to escaping the clay-court slog and has shown why as he advanced the quarter-finals on the grass in Mallorca.

Australian Jordan Thompson had a terrific grass-court season the last time he competed on the green stuff two years ago.

He looks in the mood for a repeat after making his second quarter-final of 2021, this time at the new Mallorca grass-court tournament.

'Tommo', Sydney's world No.76, couldn't wait to escape the clay-court grind and have another crack on the grass courts where he reached a final in the Netherlands and a semi-final in Turkey before Wimbledon in the 2019 European summer.

He then went on to take Nick Kyrgios to five sets in an enthralling first-round contest at the All England Club.

After his opening round come-from-behind victory against Spain's Pablo Andujar, Thompson followed that up on Wednesday by defeating Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein 6-4 6-4 to make his first quarter-final in any event since the start of the year in Melbourne.

On Thursday, he'll seek to make his first semi-final since the Antalya grass-court tournament two years ago when he meets home favourite Pablo Carreno Busta, who hammered him on clay in Barcelona but may now find the 27-year-old a very different proposition.

Meanwhile, third-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut made a successful debut at the event, defeating Stefano Travaglia 6-3 7-5 to be thr third Spaniard in the last eight.

Halle winner Ugo Humbert withdrew before his round of 16 clash with Sam Querrey due to abdominal pain and the walkover will give the American a meeting with Bautista Agut.