Rafa Nadal, three-time champion, moved one step closer to his dream final after beating Spanish compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Rafa recorded his sixth career win over Ferrero and will now face another Spaniard, fifth seed David Ferrer, for a semi-final berth. Rafa, 21, took his record at the Monte Carlo Country Club to 21 wins in 22 matches with his only loss coming against Argentina's Guillermo Coria in the third round in 2003.

"It's never easy to play Juan Carlos on clay so to beat him 6-4, 6-1 is a very good win for me," said Nadal who has now racked up 95 wins in 96 matches on clay since April 2005"...."I've had a great start beating Mario [Ancic] in the first round and now Juan Carlos".

"The first claycourt tournament of the year is never easy especially this season because I played Davis Cup indoors in Germany last week. Then I had a few days at home in Mallorca before coming here to prepare for three days."

The triple French Open champion broke in the fourth game of the first set to lead 3-1 before 13th-seed Ferrero, twice a champion in 2002 and 2003, hit back in the seventh game. However Rafa wrapped up the opening set with a vicious, deep forehand on his fourth set point.

Rafa was ahead at 2-0 in the second set with a punishing forehand return of a weak Ferrero second service and that soon became 4-0 with a well-placed drop shot.The duo then exchanged breaks which left Nadal with a 5-1 lead which he converted into victory courtesy of a smooth forehand pass.