Tag Archives: Barcelona Open

Nadal Defeats Nicolas Almagro for His Eighth Barcelona Open Title

Posted on by
1

Rafael Nadal continues his winning ways at the Barcelona Open…

The 26-year-old Spanish tennis superstar won the tournament for the eighth time on Sunday, beating his fellow countryman Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3 to earn his fourth title of the year.

Rafael Nadal

“I am very happy,” said Nadal. “It has been an important week for me to win here again and a great source of joy after everything I have been through.”

Nadal has made six straight finals since returning from his knee injury. This title, the 54th of his career, comes a week after his eight-year reign at Monte Carlo ended with a loss to top-ranked Novak Djokovic.

“With just these six tournament since I have returned, I have managed to assure my place in the top 10 one more year, which is positive,” said Nadal, who is ranked No. 5. “These months of work have been worth it.”

Even so, Nadal is hesitant to say how this might carry over to Roland Garros, where he has won a record seven times.

Rafael Nadal

“This win doesn’t mean much,” he said. “Just that I am in good form since I have come back. The results are fantastic. I would never have imagined them and they are better than I had dreamed. I am back playing at a high level.”

After trailing 3-0 in the first set, Nadal found his form and broke Almagro in three of his next four service games to take command of the match, which was  played in a drizzle.

Nadal won the Barcelona Open from 2005-09 but did not play in 2010 because of a knee injury. He has won the tournament every year since. He has won 39 straight matches on the red clay at Real Club de Tenis, his last loss coming 10 years ago to Spain’s Davis Cup captain, Alex Corretja.

“I didn’t know in 2005 that I would win again or that in 2013 I would still be winning,” Nadal said.

Nadal to Defend Title at the Barcelona Open

Posted on by
Reply

Rafael Nadal has plans to defend his title in his home country…

The 26-year-old Spanish tennis star, who recently returned to the courts after being sidelined with a knee injury since the summer, will play in the Barcelona Open in April.

Rafael Nadal II

The decision is welcome news for the tournament since Nadal is one of the ATP tour’s biggest draws and a huge hero in Barcelona.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion began the summer on a high note by capturing a record seventh French Open title with a victory over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final, but he hasn’t played since a shocking second-round loss at Wimbledon.

Nadal said he was suffering from a knee ailment known as Hoffa’s Syndrome, which involves pain and swelling around the bottom of and under the kneecap.

Nadal recently announced that he will return to action at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, an event that starts on December 27.

He’s the defending champion at the Barcelona Open, where he’s won seven titles.

The tournament will take place April 20-28, 2013.

Verdasco Upsets Nadal at the Madrid Open

Posted on by
Reply

Fernando Verdasco has scored a massive upset at the Madrid Open…

The 28-year-old tennis star—currently ranked No. 19 in the world—defeated his fellow countryman and the world’s No. 2 player Rafael Nadal, considered the King of Clay, 6-3, 3-6. 7-5.

Fernando Verdasco

After overcoming a first-set loss on the Open’s controversial blue-clay court, Nadal evened the score and appeared set to move on to the quarterfinals. But Verdasco took charge of the match to notch his first win over Nadal in 14 tries and handing his Davis Cup teammate his first defeat on clay in 23 matches.

“After losing so many times against honestly the best player on clay ever, to beat him on clay is the maximum,” an emotional Verdasco said after his exhausting match. “I don’t have words.”

Fernando Verdasco

Nadal—who notched his seventh consecutive title at the Barcelona Open last weekend—didn’t hide his dislike of the new blue clay at the Madrid Open this week, calling it soft and slippery.

Verdasco moves on to next play Tomas Berdych after the Czech beat Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-1.

Nadal Wins Seventh Consecutive Barcelona Open Title…

Posted on by
Reply

It’s no wonder Rafael Nadal is considered the player to beat on clay…

The 25-year-old Spanish tennis superstar—currently ranked No. 2 in the world—defeated countryman David Ferrer 7-6 (1), 7-5 in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday to claim his seventh consecutive title at the tournament.

Rafael Nadal

“It’s almost unimaginable to win here seven times,” said Nadal. “It’s a special tournament for me, at home in my club. To win at home in front of the people you know is always more special.”

Nadal needed two hours and 40 minutes to beat Ferrer, who is ranked No. 6 in the world.

“David pushed me to the physical limit and today, from a tennis standpoint, I did not play a brilliant match,” Nadal said.

Rafael Nadal

Nadal has not lost in Barcelona since the second round in 2003, when countryman Alex Corretja beat him.

“David deserves (to win) this tournament more than anybody,” said Nadal. “I hope he wins it some day.”

Ferrer has now lost four Barcelona Open finals to Nadal in the past five years. The two also played in the final here in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

“I tried everything, like always, but Rafa is Rafa, and we all already know how good he is. I’ve lost four times, but I’ve lost to one of the greats,” Ferrer said.

Nadal, who has won 10 Grand Slam championships, is considered the “king of clay,” having won six French Open titles.

The Barcelona Open is one of the biggest clay-court events on the ATP calendar and a key tune-up for the French Open, which gets underway in late May.