Nadal also enjoyed a comfortable afternoon as his quest for a 10th Barcelona title continued unhindered with a 7-6 (1), 6-2 win over Korean qualifier Hyeon Chung.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion had to battle back from a break down in the first set to take it on a tiebreak before romping through the second.
“I gave him a bit too much respect,” said Nadal. “At the start he was dominating, but I think once I broke back to 3-3 the match was more in my hands.”
Nadal will be a strong favourite to reach the final when he takes on Horacio Zeballos in the last four after the Argentine beat Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-1.
World No. 1 Andy Murray also entered the semi-final at Barcelona after he beat Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4). The Wimbledon champion faces Dominic Thiem in Saturday’s semis after the Austrian ended Japanese lucky loser Yuichi Sugita’s unlikely run to the quarters 6-1, 6-2.
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