Madrid: Fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal stretched his perfect start to the European clay-court season to 11 matches with a routine 6-3, 6-3 win over Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov to reach round three of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.

Rafael Nadal. Pic/ AFP

Fresh from victories in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Nadal will continue his quest for a fifth title in Madrid against American Sam Querrey or France's Lucas Pouille on Thursday. Nadal is looking for a record 50th career clay-court title in the Spanish capital and was rarely troubled by the world number 39 Kuznetsov.

The Spaniard raced into a 3-0 first-set lead and one break was enough to seal the set as he staved off break points in the fourth game. Kuznetsov made a more positive start to the second to lead 3-2, but was blown away as Nadal, ominously for his rivals later in the week, found his rhythm to win the last four games.