Spain’s world number one Rafael Nadal is through to the semi-finals of the $1.3 million ATP Rio Open after crushing Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-1, 6-0 in the last eight on Friday.
“I think I played my best match of the week today,” said top seed Nadal after a crushing win in 75 minutes kept his run going in what is his first event since losing last month’s Australian Open final.
As he looks to reach his third final in three tournaments this year, he will now face compatriot Pablo Andujar after the eighth seed won 6-1, 6-1 against another Spaniard, Tommy Robredo.
In the other semi-final, Spain’s second seed David Ferrer will come up against Oleksandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine.