Rafael Nadal wins but Robin Soderling out in Barcelona
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Rafael Nadal began his bid for a sixth Barcelona Open title in superb fashion with a 6-1 6-1 second-round win over fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.
The world number one, who won last week's Monte Carlo Masters and is unbeaten on clay since 2009, took just over an hour to complete the victory.
Nadal, 24, will face Santiago Giraldo of Colombia in the third round.
However, Swedish third seed Robin Soderling is out after losing 6-2 6-4 to Croatian Ivan Dodig.
Soderling, who has finished as runner-up at the French Open for the last two years, was broken five times by his 56th-ranked opponent.
It was the Swede's first match of the clay season after recovering from a knee injury suffered in March, and his defeat ensures Britain's Andy Murray of a prolonged stay at fourth in the world rankings.
Earlier, fourth seed David Ferrer made quick work of Argentine Carlos Berlocq in a 6-2 6-2 victory.
After surviving two break points to hold in the third game, Spaniard Ferrer took advantage of some weak serving from Berlocq - he double-faulted four times - to take the first set.
In the second set, Ferrer also saved the only two break points he faced while breaking twice for an easy win.
The world number six will play Victor Hanescu in round three after the Romanian beat South African 14th seed Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Nadal, who beat Ferrer in Sunday's final in Monte Carlo, was in typically aggressive mood from the start against Gimeno-Traver, breaking in his opponent's first two service games on his way to an easy victory.
"I played quite a good match," said the world number one. "At times he made more mistakes than probably he usually would and I was able to make the most of that.
"I am very pleased to be back here in Barcelona after not being able to make it last time."
Also through to round three is 2001 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, who beat German Mischa Zverev - the man who replaced injured British number one Murray in the tournament - 6-4 7-5.
Ferrero is joined by 11th seed and fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes following his 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 6-4 win over Benoit Paire of France, Italian Simone Vagnozzi, who knocked out Argentine 16th seed Juan Monaco 6-3 6-2, and Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who progressed courtesy of a 6-2 7-6 (13-11) victory over Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Ninth seed Richard Gasquet of France battled past Blaze Kavcic 6-3 4-6 6-2, and big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic defeated Simon Greul 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-5).
