Rafael Nadal heads the list of home hopes to progress into the last 16 at the Barcelona Open on Wednesday. The world number one was joined by five other Spaniards in making it through to the third round of the competition.

He saw off Frederico Gil 6-2 6-2 first up and his compatriot Tommy Robredo then beat Gaston Gaudio 7-6 (8-6) 6-1. "It was a win without too much bother," 22-year-old Nadal said. "I was always comfortable without really doing anything spectacular."

Second seed Fernando Verdasco coasted to a 7-5 6-3 win over qualifier Nicolas Lapenti, to secure a meeting with Tomas Berdych.

Nicolas Almagro was made to work the hardest of the Spanish contingent, coming from behind for the second day in a row, this time to edge Juan Ignacio Chela 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 after saving two match points.

David Nalbandian awaits in the last 16, while Feliciano Lopez was the last of the six to confirm his progress, losing the first set before rallying to see off Santiago Ventura 2-6 6-4 6-3.

David Ferrer completed the list of homegrown talent, while Fernando Gonzalez beat Jose Acasuso 6-4 6-4, Stanislas Wawrinka overcame Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 6-1 and Juan Monaco beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-5 6-4.

Potito Starace surprised Robin Soderling 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-2 and Belgium's Christophe Rochus also ousted France's Richard Gasquet 6-1 6-7 (2-7) 6-3.

From Sky Sports