Top seed Rafael Nadal extended his current clay court win streak to 31 matches as the Spaniard overcame an early run of breaks to post a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Santiago Giraldo at the ATP Barcelona Open.
Nadal is bidding for a sixth title at his "home" event in seven editions after missing 2010 due to treatment on a knee injury.
He moved into the quarter-finals in less than 90 minutes, surviving a first set with five breaks of serve against a South American opponent.
But Nadal did not hang about after securing the opening set. He took a 3-0 lead in the second and quickly closed it out.
The number one was last beaten on clay at Roland Garros in 2009 by Robin Soderling in the fourth round.
Nadal now stands an ATP-leading 26 wins and four losses this season. He is 27-1 in Barcelona.
He will on Friday face Gael Monfils, who beat French compatriot Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) in their third-round encounter.
"It's never easy against Giraldo because he has a good backhand and plays well from the baseline," said Nadal.
"When he's playing well he can be difficult to stop. But I played well and didn't make many mistakes.
"Monfils will be a fantastic opponent. He's difficult to play so I will have to be aggressive.
"It will be a tough match," added Nadal, who has a 7-1 record against the Frenchman.
"Monfils can attack as well as defend, You never know how he is going to come out and play. He'll probably play very aggressive and I'll have to try and defend."
Seventh seed Monfils, a laid-back character in almost all circumstances, was deliberately refusing to consider the task ahead.
"I won't think about the match now," said a reluctant Monfils, playing in only his second event since a wrist injury forced him out in February. "I will prepare it just like any other match."
Monfils improved to 4-3 over his friend and compatriot Gasquet, not at his best after a pair of previous matches each lasting in excess of two hours.
"I got off to the better start, Richard started slow," said Monfils, who has played just ten matches this season.
"He did not come to the court in his best form today. I played aggressive from the start, that's what won the match for me."
Fourth-seeded Monte Carlo finalist David Ferrer got a Spanish win as he defeated Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2.
Austrian Juergen Melzer beat Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-2 to earn a re-match of last weekend's Monte Carlo semi-final which he lost to Ferrer.
Ferrer has a strong Barcelona history, playing the semi-finals or better for the last four years and losing a pair of finals to Nadal.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, champion a decade ago, continued his injury comeback after eight months out with a defeat of Italian Simone Vagnozzi 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4.
He plays compatriot and eighth seed Nicolas Almagro, whose 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 win over Nikolay Davydenko earned a career-first top 10 place.
- AFP
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