Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open by beating Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2 yesterday.
The Spanish players exchanged early breaks in the first set but the top-seeded Nadal soon took control to secure victory at the clay-court tournament.
Nadal had 24 winners against only nine for the 35-year-old Montanes, a wild-card entry this week.
“I started off very well, and it felt really good,” the fifth-ranked Nadal said. “I had a great forehand today and the conditions were much better than yesterday.”
Nadal, coming off his first title of the year at the Monte Carlo Masters last week, will next face 12th-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy, who defeated eighth-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-3, 6-2.
Fognini eliminated Nadal in the third round of last year’s tournament in Barcelona. The 31st-
ranked Italian beat Nadal three times last year, including in a five-set match in the third round at the U.S. Open.
Nadal is trying to win his ninth title at the Barcelona Open, and first since 2013.
Also, Malek Jaziri converted only two of 12 break points but was still able to defeat Alexander Zverev of Germany 7-6 (5), 6-4. AP
No Comments