Rafael Nadal could tie Guillermo Vilas’ all-time record of 49 clay court titles won should he capture a ninth Barcelona Open trophy this week in Catalonia.
The Spaniard, who has reigned supreme on home soil for many years, suffered shock defeats on his last two visits to Barcelona, falling to Fabio Fognini in the last 16 in 2015, and to Nicolas Almagaro in the quarter-finals in 2014.
The world No. 5, who is the top seed this week, is coming off a smashing success in Monte Carlo, where he claimed a ninth title, beating Gael Monfils in the final. It was Nadal’s first Masters 1000 trophy in almost two years and he is now back on top of the leaderboard of title winners at that level, with 28 alongside Novak Djokovic.
The 29-year-old had a bye in the first round and opens his Barcelona campaign today against fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers, who made the quarter-finals as a lucky loser last week in Monte Carlo, with impressive wins over Alexander Zverev and David Goffin.
Nadal could get a rematch with Fognini in the quarter-finals before a potential semi-final with David Ferrer.
“I am very happy about the tournament in Monte Carlo,” Nadal said. “It’s one of the most important ones of the season. I played at a very high level during the entire week. But now I have to continue like this in the next tournaments. “
Athletes live for their victories. We have to fight hard to do well and achieve victories.
⚠WATCH OUT? @RafaelNadal having fun after practice today with a few ⚽tricks on the?court? #Rafa #Nadal @videoshowapp pic.twitter.com/GxrOETbjhC
— BabsPf (@puepppy) April 19, 2016
“The objective in 2016 is to be happy. I have to keep playing, but be happy above all. I am looking forward to the tournament.”
On the opposite side of the draw, No2 seed Kei Nishikori is looking to win his third consecutive Barcelona title.
Nishikori skipped Monte Carlo and will be playing his first clay event of the season. The Japanese world No6’s last outing was a runner-up showing in Miami and he’ll be targeting a second trophy win this season, having triumphed in Memphis in February.
“This my favourite tournament,” said Nishikori in the Catalan city, according to Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.
“It’s my first clay event of the year and it’s one of the most difficult ones due to the very high level of players in the draw.
“Rafa was fantastic (in Monte Carlo). He’s in form, playing once again at a very high level of tennis. It’s great to see him playing so well once again on clay. I believe that he is back. I knew that sooner or later he would return to his best level because I’ve seen train so hard over the past few months.”
Tuesday’s action saw former top-10 player Ernests Gulbis suffer yet another opening round defeat, stumbling to a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics. Gulbis is now 2-7 win-loss on the season and is down to No83 in the world.
No11 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov got through a tough second round 4-6, 7-6 (9), 6-4 against Evgeny Donskoy.
