Rafael Nadal cruises into last eight in Barcelona

The Spanish top seed, who won a seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters crown on his favoured clay surface last Sunday, is bidding for a sixth title in the Catalan capital in seven years.

He took his winning record on the red dust since 2005 to 183-6 to set up a clash with Frenchman Gael Monfils.

"Beating Giraldo 6-3, 6-1 is good news because he can hit winners from anywhere on the court," the Wimbledon, French Open and US Open champion said afterwards.

Looking ahead to today's clash with seventh-seed Monfils, who beat compatriot and ninth seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 earlier, Nadal added: "It's going to be a very tough match. Monfils is one of those players who can attack as well as defend and you never know how he is going to come out and play. He'll probably have to come out and attack but I'll try to dominate the points with my drives."

Fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, beaten by Nadal in the Monte Carlo final, eased through to the last eight with a 6-3, 6-2 success against Victor Hanescu of Romania.

Ferrer will next meet Austrian Juergen Melzer, the sixth seed, who had to come from a set down to get past 11th seed Albert Montanes, another Spaniard, 6-7 6-3, 6-2.

Meanwhile, in the women's game, Australian Samantha Stosur, last year's French Open finalist, edged past world No 3 Vera Zvonareva 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the Stuttgart Grand Prix semi-finals.

Stosur, who skipped the Fed Cup play-off against Ukraine at the weekend to focus on her clay court preparation, saw her work pay off as she fought back from a set down to beat the Russian, who broke a staggering nine strings and briefly played with her coach's racquet.

Stosur will now face 22-year-old Julia Goerges, ranked 32nd, who beat fellow German Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-4. "It is the best match I have had all year," Stosur said. "To come through as close and as tight is just wonderful."