BARCELONA, Spain — Nearly 14 years after their first meeting as professionals, Rafael Nadal maintained order by beating Spanish countryman Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2 to make the Barcelona Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
Nadal has yet to drop a set in six tour-level and challenger matches against Montanes. They exchanged early breaks but the top-seeded Nadal soon took control.
Nadal broke serve five times and had 24 winners against only nine for Montanes, a wild card.
"I had a great forehand today and the conditions were much better than yesterday," said Nadal, who was 16 when he beat Montanes for the first time at a challenger in Barcelona.