Rafael Nadal sails into Barcelona Open quarter-finals after beating Ivan Dodig

World No.1 Rafael Nadal has booked a quarter-final berth at the Barcelona Open after defeating Croatian Ivan Dodig.

The Spaniard, who has won the tournament eight times, beat the world number 37 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 23 minutes and will now meet fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro on Friday after he overcame compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3.

According to the BBC, should he come through his last-eight contest, Nadal will face the winner of the quarter-final between German Philipp Kohlschreiber and Colombian Santiago Giraldo.

Nadal has lost just two sets during his 42-match winning streak in Barcelona, and his only defeat came on his tournament debut in 2003 when he was beaten by compatriot Alex Corretja, the report added.