Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini will renew their rivalry during quarterfinal action on Friday in Barcelona. Benoit Paire and Malek Jaziri are also bidding for a place in the last four.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (12) Fabio Fognini
Nadal and Fognini will be squaring off for the 10th time in their careers when they meet again in the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Friday. The head-to-head series stands at 6-3 in favor of Nadal, who is 3-2 against the Italian on clay. Fognini, however, has won three of their last five encounters dating back to last February and he beat Nadal 6-4, 7-6(6) in the third round of this Barcelona tournament in 2015. After a stunning comeback from two sets down by Fognini at the U.S. Open last summer, Nadal prevailed 7-5, 6-3 in the Beijing semifinals.
Looking to build on momentum from his ninth Monte-Carlo title, Nadal has not lost more than three games in any of four sets so far in Barcelona. The world No. 5 took care of fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers in the second round before easing past another compatriot, Albert Montanes, on Thursday. Fognini also earned an opening bye as the 12th seed and he followed that up with victories over Mikhail Youzhny (3-6, 6-0, 6-1) and Viktor Troicki (6-3, 6-2). He is still just 5-5 for what has been an injury-plagued season and 3-5 in his last eight matches. This is a much-improved Nadal from what was on display last year in Barcelona and he certainly will not lack confidence or motivation heading into this one.
Pick: Nadal in 2
[polldaddy poll=9393146]
(6) Benoit Paire vs. Malek Jaziri
Not too much unlike his entire career, Paire’s 2016 campaign has been a roller-coaster. The Frenchman opened with a semifinal performance in Chennai, went on a four-match losing streak soon thereafter, reached another semifinal in Marseille, and then lost five of his next six matches. Paire played well last week in Monte-Carlo to reach the third round, but he failed to maintain a set and double-break lead over Andy Murray and fell 2-6, 7-5, 7-5. Seeded sixth in Barcelona, Paire has bounced back with straight-set defeats of Teymuraz Gabashvili and Pablo Cuevas.
Up next for the world No. 22 is a first-ever meeting with Jaziri. The 76th-ranked Tunisian has benefited from playing in a section of the draw vacated by Richard Gasquet, who withdrew due to injury. Jaziri ousted Hyeon Chung, got past lucky loser Renzo Olivo in three sets, and upset Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 6-4 on Thursday. He is through to just his fifth career ATP quarterfinal and second at the 500-point level (got crushed by Philipp Kohlschreiber at the 2014 Dubai event). Paire not only has the edge in experience but is also playing with confidence again, so this may end up being one-way traffic.
Pick: Paire in 2
[polldaddy poll=9393239]
Why does Rafa give Fognini so much respect? If he was that good, he would have made the top 10 by now; as far as I know he’s never even made the top 15. Yes any of the players can beat anyone on a given day but Rafa should remember who he is i.e. one of the greatest players of all time.
I guess the scars of three losses to the Fog last year have not yet healed.
Come on Rafa!
Nice hold from Rafa coming back from 0-30 in that first service game.
Kohls has come out aggressive. No surprise there.