Monte Carlo Masters: Rafael Nadal too good for defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka

Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal has raced into the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters by knocking out last year’s winner Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets.

Nadal, who won the tournament eight years in a row between 2005 and 2012, did not face a break point in the opening set and reeled off five games in a row to claim it 6-1 in under half an hour.

Although Wawrinka showed more fight in the second, breaking back to level the set 3-3, he was soon broken again and this time Nadal consolidated the advantage to win the contest 6-4.

Up next for the Spaniard in the last four is a match against second-seed Andy Murray, who was even more convincing in his 6-2 6-0 quarter-final win over Milos Raonic.