Nadal routs Monfils, reaches Barcelona semis

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BARCELONA, Spain: Rafael Nadal brushed aside French seventh seed Gael Monfils in a quick 6-2, 6-2 quarter-final victory on Friday which put the five-time champion into his accustomed weekend place at the Barcelona Open.

The top seed could be the first of four countrymen in a possible all-Spanish semi-final lineup at the Real Club de Tennis.

Locals have dominated for the past decade, with only a 2002 title from Argentine Gaston Gaudio interrupting Iberian success dating to Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2001.

The 31-year-old Ferrero remains in contention at this edition, facing off later against eighth-seeded compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Nadal took just 75 minutes to post his 32nd consecutive victory on clay; he last lost on the surface against Robin Soderling at the 2009 French Open fourth round.

Shortly after Nadal got off court, light rain began to fall, delaying the programme, but it later started to clear as Juegen Melzer and Monte Carlo finalist David Ferrer awaited their start.

Nadal, the Spanish world number one will face a semi-final against either Croatian Ivan Dodig or Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

Nadal has stormed through the field so far this year, losing just ten games in three matches. He owns eight wins from nine meetings with Monfils, the seventh seed who was playing in only his second event since a wrist injury forced him out in February.

Nadal improved to 28-1 in Barcelona as he was untroubled by Monfils on a grey cloudy day after morning rain wihch produced the heavy clay conditions so favoured by Nadal.

The Spaniard never faced a break point in the one-way contest while breaking Monfils four times.