Wimbledon 2022 LIVE: Rafael Nadal defeats Botic van de Zandschulp after Nick Kyrgios and Simona Halep wins

LIVE – Updated at 09:27

Second seed Rafael Nadal took another step forward in his bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam on Monday by booking his spot in the Wimbledon quarter-finals with a commanding 6-4 6-2 7-6(6) win against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

The All England Club, where the Spaniard has won two of his 22 majors, has been the least rewarding place for Nadal but he arrived this year having won the Australian and French Open titles back-to-back for the first time in his career.

A third Wimbledon title and first since 2010 on the manicured lawns and a U.S. Open triumph would see the Mallorcan claim the calendar slam -- a feat last achieved in 1969 by Australian great Rod Laver.

Nadal broke 21st-seeded Van de Zandschulp’s serve five times in the final Centre Court match on Monday, dominating the contest from start to finish to win in two hours 21 minutes.

Serving for the match at 5-3, the 36-year-old Spaniard was broken but then got the job done in the tiebreak. He wil face American 11th seed Taylor Fritz for a place in Friday’s semi-finals.

In perhaps his most dominant display yet at Wimbledon this year, Rafael Nadal displayed more signs that he is peaking at the right time to further elevate what has been an astonishing 2022.

Novak Djokovic, who has already demoralised his opponents with consistently clean, ruthless tennis at these Championships, remains the man to beat. But the Spaniard continues to polish his game and close the gap, rediscovering an immaculate touch and judgement went bolting from the baseline in what is his first time back in SW19 for three years.

Naturally there was rust as Francisco Cerundolo and RiÄardas Berankis each stole a set in the first two rounds, but if a more ruthless side