A rematch of last year’s final is on the docket for Friday in Barcelona, where Rafael Nadal and Nicolas Almagro will do battle in the quarterfinals. Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic are also in action.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (6) Nicolas Almagro
Nadal and Almagro will be going head-to-head for the 11th time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Friday afternoon. The head-to-head series stands at a perfect 10-0 in favor of Nadal, who has won eight of those matches on clay. The two Spaniards most recently met on two occasions last year, with Nadal prevailing 7-5, 6-4 in Acapulco and 6-4, 6-3 in the title match of this same Barcelona event.
An eight-time champion at this tournament, Nadal advanced to the quarters with straight-set scalps of Albert Ramos and Ivan Dodig. The world No. 1 may not be at his very best after losing to David Ferrer in the Monte-Carlo quarterfinals, but he at least looked better against Dodig on Thursday. Almagro avenged a loss in this month’s Houston final by beating Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3 in the third round. That was preceded by a straight-set victory over Martin Klizan for the No. 6 seed, who is now 12-6 for his 2014 campaign. This may not be a complete rout with Nadal looking somewhat vulnerable, but Almagro is 2-24 lifetime in total sets against the favorite.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
[polldaddy poll=7995385]
(12) Marin Cilic vs. (4) Kei Nishikori
Nishikori and Cilic will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 4-2 in Nishikori’s favor, but they have never faced each other on clay (all six of their previous encounters have come on hard courts). They most recently collided to begin this season in Brisbane, where Nishikori scored a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory.
Cilic advanced on Thursday by winning a 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-6(5) thriller against Tommy Robredo that required two hours and 46 minutes to be completed. The 27th-ranked Croat, who opened with a straight-set defeat of Andrey Kuznetsov, is now 25-7 for the season. Nishikori booked his spot in the last eight with a three-set win over Roberto Bautista Agut followed by a 6-0, 6-4 rout of Andrey Golubev. Japan’s top player appears to be bouncing back nicely from a groin injury that forced him out of a Miami semifinal and Davis Cup. Based on their past history and Cilic’s third-round tussle, Nishikori should have the edge. Clay is also likely to favor Barcelona’s No. 4 seed.
Pick: Nishikori in 3
[polldaddy poll=7995392]
Rafa will have his first test here playing Almagro. He beat Verdasco pretty easily. I didn’t see that coming. But Rafa also knows exactly what to expect. He seems to be getting better with every match. But I don’t think it will be a rout. I believe that I voted for Rafa losing more than 8 games.
I am going with Nishi to win in three against Cilic. I thought Nishi looked really good against RBA. He seems to be fully recovered. Cilic had to battle to beat Robredo, but I don’t think he will get by Nishi. I also think that Nishi will win in three sets.
I voted for Rafa winning and only losing eight games. The way I originally wrote it, it looks like I am saying that Rafa will lose. No way!
https://twitter.com/augustazeight/status/459570324514689025/photo/1
I really love these @augusta08 pictures of action man Rafa with the Vamos! embedded…
rafaisthebest (at 7:07 am),
I want to energize him, I believe in telepathy. 🙂
augusta, you really make the true ambassador of Rafa…we are so lucky to have you here…keep feeding us with the news on Rafa! You are doing a great job!!! 🙂
Vamos!
Not much gets past Nadline and Augusta 🙂
I used to go to VB but it is too girly groupie for my liking.
King of Clay in the house!
Vamos!!
Mo in the chair!
titanic
Set Rafa, 3 UEs in the set………..measly 3.
Good to see Rafa trying his DTL shots today. Nico’s been competitive, but Rafa’s been better.
What’s up with Nico’s hair? Is that an Elvis impersonation he’s got going there??
look at rafa’s backhand ! WOAH
UEs count so far:
Rafa 3
Nico 19
Jason Goodall just made a very good point. He said the best clay-courters are disciplined. It’s not about how hard you can hit, it’s about choosing the right shot to hit. Rafa, Borg, Wilander, Muster have/had that trait…………
I got the sense Rafa was playing disciplined tennis yesterday, and that is why the error count has decreased.
then how do you account for Gulbis being in the semis?
^^Gulbis being in the semis is a statistical anomaly, Ricky, an outlier…….
Are you including Gulbis in the “best clay-courter’ category?
DO YOU?
I do not. DO YOU?
There is but one player in that category ritb.
#RITB
#RITB
3-2 Almagro. Djokovic would have been done with this match by now.
If his arm didn’t hurt.
……or his ankle.
Besides, his efficiency certainly hasn’t helped him win a French Open.
#SlowAndSteadyWinsTheRace
Ricky, this is just for you:
http://childhoodreading.com/?p=3
Now I’ve lost both the ATP stream and the site…………….
Rafa is 0-5 on BPs this set.
Who does he think he is? Fed?
#SorryTammy
this is good hitting from Rafito
scanadalous
the hidden Canada was an accident, honest 😉
i just hope….
C’mon Rafa, let’s do this…….send Nico back to Graceland.
DO YOU?
#PartnerInCrime
#OKGood
He looks like Elvis for goodness’ sakes! C’mon Rafa, strum his guitar……….
it did not need an explanation
Nico having a strop…………
#genius
strop
Rafa only lost six points on serve this set.
#NoTimeToChange
#AntiJinx
set point MAGRO
MAGRO!!!
🙂 Rafa wants to do it the hard way
Rafa lost a TB to Ferru in MC and now he loses a TB to………….Almagro?
11 UEs in that set alone, 5 BPs and zero conversions. Untidy from Rafito. Should have converted those BPs…..
Now he’s given Elvis belief……
Vamos Rafa!
Let’s just hope Elvis has left the building.
#MUGRO