Rafael Nadal

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[Damian]

Nadal Overcomes Ivashka Scare In Barcelona

Spoiler:

Spaniard begins his quest for 12th title
Top seed Rafael Nadal was pushed to the brink by qualifier Ilya Ivashka on Wednesday, but the 11-time champion rallied from a set down to kick off his Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell campaign with a victory on his namesake Centre Court.

The 34-year-old Spaniard raised his level after dropping a tight opening set, roaring back to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory after two hours and 20 minutes on Pista Rafa Nadal.

“He played well. He played at a very high level, and I didn’t, especially at the beginning,” Nadal said in an on-court interview. “And then I think I changed a little bit the way I played. I was more aggressive later, and the match changed a lot. I’m happy I [fought] hard today to be in the third round. That’s what I needed after the loss at Monte-Carlo.”

You May Also Like: Rublev 'Feels Angry', But Finds A Way To Win In Barcelona
Nadal arrived in Barcelona looking to shake off a Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters quarter-final upset at the hands of Andrey Rublev, but he quickly found himself in trouble as Ivashka made a fast start. The qualifier, ranked 108 spots lower in the FedEx ATP Rankings than the World No. 3 and seeking his first Top 10 victory, earned the first break to go up 2-0.

Nadal’s 38-0 record on clay against qualifiers seemed to be in danger as 27-year-old Ivashka kept the Spaniard under pressure with his flat and powerful hitting. The top seed stayed within touching distance, despite an uncharacteristically high unforced error count (two winners to nine unforced errors in the first set). But a second break of serve sealed the set for Ivashka after 53 minutes.

The Spaniard set the tone early on in the second with his first break of the match, connecting with his signature inside-out forehands to punish the Belarusian’s backhand wing. Nadal powered ahead to claim the second set, and earned the decisive break in the third at 4-3 to seal the victory.


“I’m sure that I’m going to have the chance to play better, and I’m going to fight for it,” Nadal said. “I have the confidence that I’m not very far [from playing well], even if the last two matches [here and in Monte-Carlo] haven’t been perfect. But here I am, and I am with the right energy to try hard. It’s a process… I’m confident that by working every day I’m going to find [right] the solutions.”

With the victory Nadal extended his record in Barcelona to 62-4, and booked a spot into the round of 16 for the 16th consecutive time. He will next face former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori, who needed three sets to take down 13th seed Cristian Garin 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1. The Japanese player saved nine of the 13 break points he faced en route to victory in two hours and 23 minute

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[Damian]

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[Damian]

Nadal Survives Three-Setter To Top Nishikori

Spoiler:

The World No. 3 won 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 in Barcelona.

Rafael Nadal overcame a challenge from Kei Nishikori at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 in two hours and 19 minutes on Thursday. The Spaniard heads into the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 where he’ll face unseeded Cameron Norrie.

The World No. 3 started by breaking the Japanese 31-year-old in the opening game to set the tone, blitzing through the first set in just 30 minutes. His pressure was relentless with Nishikori taking little risks, managing just three winners. The 11-time Barcelona champion entered the matchup with a dominant 11-2 record in their ATP Head2Head Series but hadn’t played against Nishikori in nearly two years.

“I think I played much better than yesterday; that’s a very important thing for me,” Nadal said on court. “The level of positive energy [was] higher, so [I’m] very satisfied.”

How To Watch

Nishikori finally got on the scoreboard for 1-1 in the second set. With that hurdle behind him, he started teeing off on his forehand and made it three games in a row for 3-1, taking full control of the momentum. A former World No. 4, Nishikori is a two-time winner in Barcelona (2014 and 2015).

He would earn a double-break and seal the set, marking the first time in history that Nadal has played a deciding set in back-to-back matches in Barcelona (he beat Ilya Ivashka 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday).


Out-defending Nadal wasn’t going to work so Nishikori moved more inside the court, taking charge instead of hanging too far back. He began changing direction better and pushed Nadal out of his comfort zone, making efficient use of his backhand down the line and closing with his forehand.

But Nadal would not be shaken up for too long and Nishikori couldn't convert on his opportunities. In the third set, Nadal survived a 0/40 first game scare by reeling off five points in a row. He’d save more break points (5/5 total in the set) and get rewarded for his clutch play with his own break for 3-1, followed by another at 5-2 to capture the win. The Spaniard improves to 63-4 in Barcelona.

Norrie had an unusual day in the office: He was leading 6-0, 3-5 against David Goffin before the Belgian retired with a right leg injury. The Brit has faced Nadal just once, losing in the fourth round of this year’s Australian Open in straight sets.

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[Damian]

Nadal: 'I Need Time On Court'

Spoiler:

The World No. 3 is embracing three-set matches in Barcelona
After winning two three-setters in a row to reach the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Rafael Nadal is embracing the battle.

“Matches like today, like yesterday help the improvement,” the 11-time Barcelona champion said. “At the same time, I didn’t play tough matches for a long time, so winning two matches like this I really hope this gives me extra confidence.”

In his opener at the ATP 500, Nadal beat Ilya Ivashka 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, and on Thursday, he fought past Kei Nishikori 6-0, 2-6, 6-2. It's the first time in history that Nadal has played back-to-back three-set matches in Barcelona.

“So the past three matches that I played were three sets and I don’t take something negative [from that],” Nadal said. “For me it’s something very positive. I need time on court, I need to go through these moments and the past two matches I went through these moments with a victory. Tomorrow is another opportunity. I’m excited to keep playing and [have] another chance to play better.”

You May Also Like: Nadal Survives Three-Setter To Top Nishikori
In Monte-Carlo last week, Nadal fell to Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

“I think my serve is evolving the right way,” Nadal said. “Of course when you play a very bad day like I did against Rublev in Monte-Carlo with my serve you need some time, but I am feeling that my serve is evolving the right way. I served better than yesterday today and in important moments I had a couple of good serves."

The World No. 3 dug deep in the final set against Nishikori, winning five points in a row after going down 0/40 in the first game and saving 5/5 break points.

“For me it was clear that I needed something else,” Nadal said. “In the second set and the beginning of the third he was playing very clean, hitting the right spots and with a very high quality of ball. So it was difficult to stop him, so I needed something else and I think I did. I played a little bit more aggressive, changed a little bit the pace and the direction of the ball.”


Nishikori is currently ranked No. 39 in the FedEx ATP Rankings but has been as high as No. 4 and is a two-time champion in Barcelona (2014 and 2015).

“I think Kei played a great level of tennis after that first set,” Nadal said. “It was a very tough match, anything could happen. Everybody knows that Kei, when he’s playing like what he did later today in the last two sets, his ranking is much higher.”

Nadal is 63-4 in Barcelona and chasing a record-setting 12th crown. He will play Cameron Norrie for a place in the semi-finals.

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Nadal Speeds Past Norrie Into Barcelona Semi-Finals

Spoiler:

Nadal sets all-Spanish semi-final against Carreno Busta
Top seed Rafael Nadal powered past fellow lefty Cameron Norrie in straight sets on Friday to return to the semi-finals at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

Coming into his quarter-final clash, the 11-time champion had already lost two sets this week after being taken the distance against Ilya Ivashka and two-time Barcelona champion Kei Nishikori. It was cause for alarm for some Spanish tennis fans, as Nadal had not previously dropped more than one set en route to any of his record Barcelona titles, nine of which he claimed without losing a set.

But Nadal made sure to not concede another, coming out swinging against Norrie and dictating with his forehand to record a 6-1, 6-4 victory on Pista Rafa Nadal.



“I played well at the beginning, especially in the first set. I think I did a lot of things well. Then I stopped myself a little bit. That's something that cannot happen, especially tomorrow [in the semi-finals],” Nadal said in an on-court interview.

“I need to hold the level of intensity from the first set [when] I was able to change direction with my forehand and have most of the points under control. Then the situation was a little bit different, so that's why I suffered later.”

You May Also Like: Sinner Topples Rublev To Reach Barcelona Semi-finals
Into his 13th semi-final in Barcelona, Nadal will next face sixth-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who lifted the trophy in Marbella earlier in the month. Carreno Busta survived a tight battle against Buenos Aires champion Diego Schwartzman, winning 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 35 minutes.

"Tomorrow I have [the] toughest match on this surface that you can play," said Carreno Busta, who trails Nadal 0-7 in their ATP Head2Head. "I'll just try to enjoy the moment."


The top seed looked to be at his fearsome best from the start against Norrie, breaking to take a 3-1 lead and reeling off the last five games in a row to take the opening set. The No.58-ranked Brit was hanging with Nadal in the early exchanges, but the gulf between them widened as the 11-time champion found his footing.

Nadal’s forehand was firing during the one-hour and 35-minute battle, keeping the Norrie serve under pressure throughout. The Spaniard converted half of the eight break points he created, and took a 2-1 lead in the second set. Things got a bit complicated as a late effort from Norrie saw the Brit break back to level the score at 4-4, but Nadal slammed the door on any hope for a comeback with an emphatic break straight back to love.

How To Watch

After clinching the match point, the 11-time champion wasted no time and quickly booked a practice court to continue working in Barcelona.

“I just want to hit some balls, to let the arms [loosen up] and just hit for 10 or 15 minutes,” he explained.

With the victory, Nadal improved to 2-0 in his ATP Head2Head against Norrie, making it 18 consecutive victories over left-handed players since 2017 in Montreal (l. Shapovalov). Nadal’s overall record against fellow lefties now sits at 108-15.

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Nadal, Straight To The Practice Court In Barcelona: ‘I’m Trying To Improve Daily’

Spoiler:

Spaniard reaches first semi-final of the year in Barcelona
After closing out a confidence-boosting win over Cameron Norrie in two sets, 11-time champion Rafael Nadal had just two words for his team at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell: “Pista 2!”

Nadal wrapped up his first straight-sets victory of the week in an hour and 35 minutes, and then went directly from his namesake Centre Court to the practice courts of the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899 to continue the hard work.

“I went to the practice court to loosen up the arms,” Nadal explained in his post-match press conference. “The match was a little bit shorter today. I’m in the process of trying to improve and working hard daily to try to find the level that I want as soon as possible…

“I just wanted to pinpoint a few things after the match to work on. It’s not the first time or the fifth time that I do this, I’ve [gone straight to the practice court] many times in the past. It’s nothing new, I’m just trying to find the things that can help me be a little bit better tomorrow.”


Coming into his quarter-final clash against Norrie, Nadal’s level had raised some alarm bells among Spanish tennis fans as he dropped a set in each of his previous matches in Barcelona. He was taken the distance against Ilya Ivashka and two-time Barcelona champion Kei Nishikori – a rare occurrence on the Spaniard’s happiest hunting ground.

Nadal has lifted the Trofeo de Godo 11 times, and had not previously dropped more than one set en route to any of his record Barcelona titles. In fact, he won the title without losing a set on nine occasions.


He was under pressure on Friday again, as Norrie broke his serve late in the second set to bring them to 4-4, threatening to force another three-setter. But this time, Nadal responded emphatically with a break back to love to seal his 13th semi-final berth in Barcelona.

It is also Nadal’s first semi-final of the year, after reaching the quarter-finals at each of his previous events at the Australian Open (l. Tsitsipas) and Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (l. Rublev).

You May Also Like: Nadal Speeds Past Norrie Into Barcelona Semi-Finals
“I’m in [the] semi-finals, that’s the thing today. I’ve been able to [advance] to that round for the first time this year, so that’s a positive news for me,” Nadal said. “I’m happy with the way I was able to improve every single day. Now is the moment to keep improving if I want to have chances against a tough opponent.

“I take every day as a positive thing, and today was a straight-sets win. For moments I played at a high level, and for moments I think I can do better. But it’s a process, and I accept the challenge and I accept the process.”

Nadal will next face sixth-seeded countryman Pablo Carreno Busta, who lifted the trophy in Marbella earlier in the month, for a spot in the championship match.

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Nadal Message Leaves Neymar’s Son Starstruck

Spoiler:

Footballer’s son watched Nadal play in Barcelona
World No. 3 Rafael Nadal might have spent some extra time on the practice court at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell recently, but he still found time for a great gesture for one of his youngest fans.

Former FC Barcelona player Neymar posted an adorable Instagram Story featuring his son, Davi Lucca, receiving any Nadal fan’s ultimate dream: a personalised video message from the Spanish legend himself.



Turns out, the nine-year-old was one of the limited number of fans in attendance at Pista Rafa Nadal, alongside other FC Barcelona figures including club president Joan Laporta and players like Pedri Gonzalez, Riqui Puig and Francisco Trincao. But as a result of strict health and safety protocols, Davi Lucca was unable to meet the 11-time champion in person.

“Davi Lucca, how are you?” Nadal said in the video as the youngster’s face quickly turned to shock. “I heard that you came to watch one of my matches recently. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to greet you, but with the virus around it was impossible. Hopefully when this is all over, you can come back and we can meet properly some day. Sending a big kiss.”

You May Also Like: Nadal Speeds Past Norrie Into Barcelona Semi-Finals
The son of the Brazil and PSG star has rubbed elbows with sports megastars like Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, but it was Nadal’s video message that left him speechless.

“You’re kidding. Mum, you’re lying to me,” he exclaimed, before literally jumping with joy. “Mum I’m so happy! He spoke to me… Nadal!”

Top seed Nadal will be back to compete at his namesake Centre Court on Saturday, when he faces sixth seed Pablo Carreno Busta for a spot in the Barcelona championship match.

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