Defending champion Rafael Nadal cruised to a 6-0 6-4 victory over Tomas Berdych in the opening round of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Thursday, having earlier enjoyed an on-court kickabout with Emirati football ace Omar Abdulrahman.

The Spaniard blew Berdych away in the first set, racing to a 1-0 lead in just 26 minutes.

Berdych put up more of a fight in the second but was unable to find a way back as Nadal set up a semi-final clash with Milos Raonic.

Nadal had warmed up for the match with a game of football tennis with Al Ain star Abdulrahman, and the evidence shared on Twitter suggested it was Nadal who got the better of the encounter.

In the day's other match, David Goffin beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 and will meet world number one Andy Murray in the last four.

Berdych and Tsonga will now contest fifth place in a play-off on Friday.