Rafa Nadal swept into the last four of the Madrid Open when he thumped Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-2 yesterday to set up a semi-final against the tournament’s surprise package, unseeded Spanish compatriot Roberto Bautista.

World no.1 Nadal has not been his dominant best on his favoured clay this year, losing in the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo and Barce-lona, but had a relatively easy ride against the outclassed Czech sixth seed, whom he has now beaten 18 times in 21 meetings on all surfaces and 17 times in a row.

The defending champion in the Spanish capital, Nadal broke the Berdych serve three times without losing his own and, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic withdrawing and Andy Murray knocked out, remains firmly on course for a fourth Madrid Masters crown.

Nadal said his performance was probably his best of the clay swing, good news for the Mallorcan as he gears up for a tilt at a record-extending ninth French Open crown later this month.

“It was a match with a lot of intensity and perhaps it was my toughest match until now in the tournament,” Nadal said.

“To make it to the semis for the first time in the clay season is great news for me,” added the 27-year-old, who is chasing a 63rd career title and a 44th on clay.

Bautista, ranked 45, had never reached the last eight of a Masters event before this week and continued his dream run with an efficient performance against Murray’s conqueror, 46th-ranked Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo.

Bautista, 26, has two top 10 wins this year, defeating Juan Martin Del Potro at the Australian Open and Berdych in Indian Wells.

Other result: Ferrer bt Gulbis 7-6 6-3.