Barcelona Open: Nadal faces Garcia-Lopez for quarter-final spot

World number one Rafael Nadal will continue his quest for a record 11th Barcelona Open title when he squares off against his Spaniard compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the last-16 round here on Thursday.

Yesterday, the top-seed continued his rich vein of form on clay court as he eased past his fellow countryman Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of men's singles event that lasted one hour, 51 minutes.

16-time Grand Slam champion Nadal will now lock horns with Garcia-Lopez, who has surged back into the top 100 in 2018 after a disappointing season last year, for a place in quarter-finals.

Nadal has now won 54 out of the 57 clashes he has played in Barcelona so far besides also extending his consecutive sets won on clay streak to 38-- which is another record.

The top-ranked had earlier headed into the tournament on the back of his eleventh Monte Carlo crown last weekend. Nadal retained his numero-uno spot in ATP rankings after clinching 6-3, 6-2 win over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the finals in Monaco.

Nadal, however, needs to win his 11th title in Barcelona in order to remain at the top spot in the ATP Rankings, or else Swiss tennis maestro ad his long-time rival Roger Federer will take over.