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Inspired world No. 140 Martin Klizan follows up Novak Djokovic win in style to await Rafael Nadal

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Inspired Martin Klizan follows up Novak Djokovic win in style to await Rafael Nadal — Klizan is on fire (Picture: AP)

Martin Klizans remarkable run at the Barcelona Open continued in style as he dumped 12 seed Feliciano Lopez out in straight sets.

The Slovak impressively dismantled Novak Djokovic on Tuesday to book his spot in the third round and he now awaits Rafael Nadal, should the world No. 1 come through his tie later.

Nadal, the overwhelming favourite to lift an 11th title, had been mapped out to face two-time champion Kei Nishikori in round three before a quarter-final clash with Djokovic, but after the former retired and the latter crashed out, his draw seems – on paper at least – somewhat more favourable.

epa06689471 Spain's Feliciano Lopez in action against Serbia's Dusan Lajovic during their second round match of the 66th Barcelona Open Trofeo Conde de Godo tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, 24 April 2018. EPA/Alejandro Garcia — Lopez was taken out (Picture: EPA)

Novak Djokovic reacts during his match against Martin Klizan at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) — Klizan had already beaten Djokovic (Picture: AP)

His compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez will face him on Barcelonas main court aptly named Pista Rafael Nadal in honour of the great clay-court champion, later on Wednesday with the winner taking on the inspired Klizan.

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The Slovak, who has seen his ranking drop to 140 in the world, stormed through qualifying before battling past Federico Delbonis and Djokovic before his latest victory over Queens champion Lopez.

Martin Klizan returns the ball against Novak Djokovic during the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) — Klizan marched on (Picture: AP)

Klizan has peaked at No. 24 on the ATP leader board and looked every bit as good as that former ranking as he stormed to a 6-1 6-4 win over the Spaniard.

And he may well get a shot at Lopezs compatriot Nadal – who is currently on a 38-set winning streak on clay – for a place in the semi-finals.