Nadal extends claycourt run to reach Barcelona quarters

BARCELONA: The Rafael Nadal claycourt bandwagon rolled on to a record 69 consecutive wins on Thursday as the Spaniard cruised to a 6-1 6-4 victory over Swede Thomas Johansson to reach the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open.   

The top seed, bidding to become only the second man to win the title in three successive years, lost just five points on his own serve as he marched into the last eight.   

The first set was a stroll for Nadal as former Australian Open champion Johansson contributed to his own downfall with three double faults and a host of unforced errors.   

Nadal ripped a backhand crosscourt winner to take the first set but the second was at least a contest as the Swede found his range on his serve, hitting five aces.   

The Spaniard always looked to have the match in control, however, and he broke Johansson in the 10th game to advance after 70 minutes.   

Nadal now will play Potito Starace after the Italian upset eighth seed Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-4 7-6, clinching victory on his fifth match point.   

Fifth seed David Ferrer overcame a late wobble in the second set to beat Serbian qualifier Boris Pashanski 6-2 7-5 and claim his place in the quarter-finals.   

The Spaniard will meet the winner of the match between Argentine fourth seed David Nalbandian and former French Open champion Carlos Moya.