Nadal won 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to book his place in the semis, despite only winning four out of his 19 break points.
"Right now I am feeling like I am playing at my best level, so that's important, to come to the clay season with more confidence," said Nadal.
He added that Blake started out playing "so aggressive" and he did not have many chances at the beginning of the match.
Nadal will now play Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals. The Czech number-ten seed beat Russian Igor Andreev in straight sets in his quarter-final.
Roger Federer faces Andy Roddic for a place in the semi-finals in one of the other reaming quarter-final ties.
In the women's event Jelena Jankovic made it through to the semis after her opponent Elena Dementieva retired with a back injury.
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