Rightio. Rafa is serving for the match. We've playing for less than two hours...

Image source, AFP

Three games on the bounce then for Rafa, another couple more to wrap this one up?

Nadal's racquet might as well be six-foot long with a net on the end, he's retrieving everything. Bautista Agut has him scampering along the baseline at 15-30, but can't finish him off as Nadal hits everything back.

Finally Rafa buckles with a forehand into the net, a sigh of relief from Bautista Agut. But he gifts Rafa another chance, and this time the nine-time champion clinically pounces to break again.

Nadal is back in fifth gear, make no mistake about it. Not that he dropped down to fourth for very long. A routine hold to 15 is sealed when he cracks down an ace.

Image source, AFP

Barry Flatman
Sunday Times tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5

Rafa is pretty much imperious this year. Many's the time we have sat here and marveled at Rafa at Roland Garros but given the circumstance of the last two years he is right back.

I cannot see anyone beating him if he maintains this kind of form.

Vamos indeed. That game has got Nadal going again, and going good.

The fourth seed channels his frustration positively, racking three more break points.

One disappears when he can't bat a forehand back to safety, but he takes the second chance - his first successful break point of the third set - to move within touching distance of the last eight.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

A time violation and a sticky game get Nadal going and we hear our first significant "Vamos!" Meanwhile, under the Lenglen stadium is a hive of activity as it's where the player lounge and restaurant are located.

Players, families, coaches, officials, journalists and others troop up and down the corridors - Carlos Moyà almost knocked me over hurrying to take up his place among Nadal's coaching staff. His charge could well be heading down the very same corridor pretty soon.

That break point - the first faced by Rafa since first round - disappears about as quickly as it arrived.

Bautista Agut puffs out his cheeks. We know Roberto, we know...

The intervention of umpire Carlos Ramos, who had a spat with Novak Djokovic over his timekeeping on Friday, doesn't faze Nadal. In fact, he helps train his thought - initially at least - as he wins the point for 30-30.

But then a loose forehand earns Bautista Agut a break point...

Image source, Reuters

A glimmer of hope for Bautista Agut at 15-0, but then a cautious return when he has Rafa on the hop lets his illustrious opponent back in.

However... a crackjack of a forehand winner from the baseline evades Rafa's lunge and then Nadal loses his first serve when he is given another time violation...

Bautista Agut's service game continues to get a thorough examination from Doctor Nadal, who has won 32 return points so far today. That's more than double his opponent's 14.

Bautista Agut is sweating again at 30-30 before easing the pressure with a funky forehand winner. And a unforced error from Rafa sees him home...

Rafa does not seem to be sweating as much today. Usually perspiration is dripping off his violet headband onto the red stuff. Makes the baseline look like a flower bed that has just been watered.

It's probably a combination of Bautista Agut offering little resistance and the Paris weather being a little cooler.

Groans from the Lenglen crowd as Rafa drops a flimsy forehand into the net for 40-30, but the nine-time champ regains focus to hold.

Image source, AFP

Turns out Rafa is feeling a touch generous. Maybe because it is his birthday weekend.

Nadal fluffs his lines with what looks set to be a forehand winner on another break point, taking the opening game of the third set into deuce.

That reprieve is blown by Bautista Agut as another stray forehand gives Rafa another chance, but the 17th seed battles back gamely to hold.

Image source, AFP

Someone throw Bautista Agut some climbing boots and a harness. His ascension of Mount Rafa starts here. I don't fancy his chances.

Especially not when Rafa bends a beautiful forehand around the post and down the line. Even if Roberto Bautista Agut and his doppelganger were both stood on court, neither would have stopped that...

Ruthless Rafa....

Some App users may need to click the link to see this Tweet.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Nadal serves out for the second set... and he holds to love again.

Bautista Agut, like Basilashvili on Friday, is probably wishing this was a three-setter...

What Bautista Agut needs is an easy hold, then he can look to build on that on Rafa's serve... scrap that.

Nadal puts more pressure on his Spanish amigo, forcing deuce and then earning his sixth break point of the second set.

He doesn't have to work too hard for it, however, as Bautista Agut sticks a bow and gift tag on it. Double fault...

Image source, AFP

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

It's three years since Nadal last won the title here but it's starting to get a very familiar feel about it. "I think he's playing better than 2014," says a Spanish journalist. "Maybe Novak can..." and she trails off, unconvinced.

Dominic Thiem is arguably as big a threat as Djokovic before the final, with Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray still potential final obstacles, so plenty of work to do. There might only be an hour or so more required today, however.

Nadal is not letting Bautista Agut have a sniff of his serve. Rafa crashes down his second ace of the match for 30-0 before a neat backhand volley seals his second successive hold to love.

Bautista Agut has lost the past 11 points on Nadal's serve...

Image source, Reuters

Hold on, Bautista Agut is slamming the brakes on. The Spanish 17th seed eases into a 40-0 lead and clocks the game with a gutsy response to a Rafa onslaught.

Bautista Agut is scrambling deep on the ad side of the court, somehow staying in the rally with a couple of big forehand shoves, then manages to get back into position and force Rafa into the net.

Choo choo! The Nadal Express is coming through. A rapid hold to love might see Rafa pulling up at the Platform Quarter-final well ahead of schedule. Possibly in the next hour.