David Ferrer’s career ends with defeat to Alexander Zverev at Madrid Open

The 37-year-old Spaniard, a former world number three who won 27 career titles and reached the French Open final in 2013, wanted to retire after his home tournament.

Ferrer had beaten compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday to prolong his career by 24 hours, and threatened to extend it further after racing into a 4-1 lead in the first set against Zverev.

But that was as good as it got for the veteran as 22-year-old German Zverev, the third seed, dropped just one more game on his way to a 6-4 6-1 victory.

Rafael Nadal made short work of teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the last 16.

The world number two, looking for a sixth title on home soil, ran out a comfortable 6-3 6-3 winner.

Breaks at the end of the first set and the beginning of the second did the damage, putting the 32-year-old in control of proceedings.

Canadian Auger-Aliassime, 18, pulled a third break back but eventually succumbed to a sixth match point.

It was a 50th Madrid win for Nadal, and next up will be American Frances Tiafoe, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4 3-6 6-3.

Seventh seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina was a surprise 6-3 2-6 7-5 loser against Serbian world number 32 Laslo Djere.

Frenchman Gael Monfils set up a meeting with Roger Federer on Thursday after a 6-3 6-1 win over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary.