Thursday 23 April 2015 23:56, UK
Kei Nishikori returns to the court on Friday in the knowledge that Rafael Nadal has been eliminated from the Barcelona Open.
Defending champion Nishikori will now enjoy a clearer path to a second consecutive triumph as he meets Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in the quarter-finals, live on Sky Sports 3 on Friday from 11.30am.
Nadal was surprisingly eliminated on Thursday by Fabio Fognini, making No 1 seed Nishikori the clear favourite to progress towards back-to-back clay court titles in Spain.
Fognini, Nadal's conqueror, will make a quick turnaround and is back in action - the Italian will face Pablo Andujar, another Spaniard, in the day's fourth match.
The Spanish contigent march on despite Nadal's elimination - David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo continue to fly the flag in their national tournament on Friday afternoon.
Third-seed Ferrer faces Philipp Kohlschreiber and ninth-seed Robredo comes up against Martin Klizan.
But Japanese star Nishikori, who kicks off the last-eight clashes, will be the top attraction as his Barcelona Open title defence continues.
Watch Nishikori and co in action at the Barcelona Open on Friday at 11.30am on Sky Sports 3 HD.
