Defending champion Kei Nishikori thrashed Colombian 15th seed Santiago Giraldo 6-2, 6-1 to move into the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday.

The Japanese top seed is making his first appearance of the season on clay in the Catalan capital, but showed no signs of rustiness early on as he romped into a 4-0 lead.

Giraldo responded by getting a break of serve back at 4-2, but Nishikori then reeled off the next seven games to take him to the brink of victory and he served it out to make the last eight with ease.

The world number five will face either Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut or Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas on Friday.

Rafael Nadal will continue his quest for a ninth Barcelona title later on Thursday when he takes on Italian Fabio Fognini.
Source: AFP