Rafael Nadal eases past Simone Bolelli in straight sets at Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal remains on course to successfully defend his Madrid Open title, having overcome Simone Bolelli 6-2 6-2 in straight sets this afternoon.

The Spaniard, who beat Steve Johnson in the second round, required a little over an hour to progress through in his homeland.

The early stages of the opening set went the way of serve, until Nadal broke Bolelli in the fifth and seventh games to storm ahead.

It was a similar case in the second set, the world number four holding throughout to cruise into the quarter-finals of the competition.

Grigor Dimitrov now awaits at the last-eight stage.