Barcelona ATP 500 - Men's Quarterfinal
4 Nicolas Almagro d 7 Juan Monaco - 63 75
Nico reaches his 4th Sf on the season: 1-2 and 3rd Sf here at BCN: 0-2.
He'll play a very winnable foe in Philipp Kohlschreiber - H2H: 4-3/Nico.
But... Nico leads 3-1 on clay. I've got a good feeling...
Post match: I've felt great during this week and I'm going to fight
to reach my first final here in Barcelona.
Barcelona ATP 500 - Men's Second Round
2 Rafael Nadal d Carlos Berlocq - 64 62
Seems M-C is a distant memory as Rafa extends his win streak here to 35.
He has not lost a match here in 10 years and is looking for title #8.
Since his return at Vina Del Mar it's been nothing but finals - 3-2:
Vina Del Mar (RU), Brazil (W), Acapulco (W), Indian Wells (W), M-C (RU).
Hard to imagine he won't make it 6 finals out of 6 tournies played.
He'll next face Benoit Parre (ranked 33) - they've never played.
And heading toward possible matches against...
Nishikori, Berdych, Raonic, Almagro and Monaco.
Like I said, it's hard to imagine him not winning the title this week.
Course I just jinx him.
Barcelona ATP 500 - Men's Second Round
Q Dmitry Tursunov d 1 David Ferrer - 75 36 61
That old dog nicknamed Dima still has a few tricls up his sleeve.
Quite impressive as Ferrer entered as the runner-up the last 2 years.
Currently ranked #66 he'll get a nifty little boost up on Monday.
Post match: It wasn't Ferrer's best match. He didn't play his best tennis.
He had the advantage over me because he's been playing on clay.
But I played very quickly and I didn't make it easy for him.
Ferrer was the favourite based on surface and ranking.
It was a match where there were a lot of opportunities for both players.
He gets Bellucci next so maybe one more upset is in the offing?
ATP 500 Barcelona - Final
1 Rafael Nadal d 3 David Ferrer - 76(1) 75
Another Sunday - another historic title. This time a 7th title at Barcelona.
With 8 titles in M-C, Rafa becomes the 1st man to win 7 titles at 2 events.
He extends his match streak in the month of April to 77.
He now has 34 consecutive wins in Barcelona, he didn't play in '09.
Tough day for David as he goes home a 4-time runner-up. All to Rafa.
Instead of going on and on, how about you watch the point of the match.
Hmm, no. The point of the tournament:
ATP 500 Barcelona - Seminfinal Results & Final Preview
1 Rafael Nadal d 9 Fernando Verdasco - 60 64
3 David Ferrer d 11 Milos Raonic - 76(2) 76(5)
1 Rafael Nadal vs 3 David Ferrer - H2H: 13-4/RN
Rafa is going for his 7th title at Barcelona tomorrow.
He will see a familiar face in the final - it will be their 4th at BCN.
Rafa has won the previous 3: '08, '09 and '11.
David is only 1 of 7 players to have 4 or more wins over Rafa.
Elite club: Only Federer, Djokovic, Davydenko & Murray have 5 or more.
Daunting: Rafa rarely loses in the month of April. Or on clay.
David is looking to add a 4th title on the season - Rafa just his 2nd.
Prepare for some long grinding points and lots of sliding.
Clay court tennis sure is fun to watch when two masters play. Enjoy.
Photos: Reuters
ATP 500 Barcelona - Quarterfinal
3 David Ferrer d 7 Feliciano Lopez - 67(4) 76(7) 63
Phew: David saved 3 match points to move into the semifinals.
David improves his year to 27-4, this includes 3 titles.
Remember, he's had frustration at Barcelona over the years...
3 times he's lost to countryman Rafael Nadal in the finals: '08, '09 and '11.
Can he finally break thru?
He'll have to get past 11 Milos Raonic first - H2H: 3-0/DF...
For a right to play the winner of Nadal/Verdasco in the other Sf.
Any way you slice it a great final is in the offing on Sunday.
Photo: Reuters
ATP 250 Houston - Final
4 Juan Monaco d 2 John Isner - 62 36 63
Juan wins his 5th career title and 2nd of the 2012 season.
In the effort he has matched his ranking high of #14.
He is a clay court specialist with very few points to defend this clay swing.
If Juan plays his balls right he could quite well be a top 10 player by June.
That quest will begin this week at Monte-Carlo.
ATP 250 Casablanca - Final
3 Pablo Andujar d 7 Albert Ramos - 61 76(5)
Pablo wins his 2nd ATP title - both coming at Casablanca ('11).
The win propels him 19 spots to a ranking of #39 - one short of his high.
He will pop-over to Monte-Carlo this week where he's never played before.
He also has no matches to defend in Madrid and Rome.
If Pablo plays his balls right he could find himself seeded at Roland Garros.
WTA Copenhagen - Final
2 Angelique Kerber d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 64
Ang wins her second WTA title - both coming this season.
She enjoys a rankings bump up to #14.
Ang prevented Caro from a hat-trick of titles at Copenhagen.
Caro seems to be, well... slipping.
She was #1 just a few months ago - she's currnetly ranked #6.
WTA Barcelona - Final
7 Sara Errani d 3 Dominika Cibulkova - 62 62
Sara wins her 4th WTA title and 2nd on the 2012 season.
As a result of her efforts she enjoys her highest ranking of #28.
She also took the doubles title yesterday with Roberta Vinci.
Barcelona ATP 500 - Final
1 Rafael Nadal d 4 David Ferrer - 62 64
Second Sunday in-a-row these 2 have played - David has yet to take a set.
Last weekend's Monte-Carlo scoreline entertained a closer contest: 64 75.
Spare a thought for David - it's just gotta sting, no?
Rafa becomes the only Open Era man to have won 2 events 6 or more times.
King of Clay: 7 titles at M-C, 6 at Barcelona, 5 at Rome and Roland Garros.
Those numbers just keep getting sicker with every passing year.
Rafa is also throwing down a 34 match winning streak on clay.
With his Sf win Rafa joined the exclusive 500 club; he's now 501-105.
At only 24 he is the 2nd youngest to get to 500 behind Bjorn Borg, also 24.
Rafa: It's a very special tournament.
It always has been as I grew up watching this tournament.
It's a historical tournament with a great tradition and great champions.
It's more than a dream to win here six times.
Rafa will take a week off before heading to Madrid where he is the defender.
So far he has seen off all clay challengers...
Things may get interesting in Spain. Can Novak offer resistance on the dirt?
Stay tuned.
Barcelona ATP 500 - Third Round
4 David Ferrer d Victor Hanescu - 63 62
With Rafa winning the biggest clay title so far this year in Monte-Carlo...
The King of Clay is still, well, The King of Clay.
But one must consider David the second best player on the dirt.
Well, at least co-second best - we mustn't forget Nicolas Almagro.
BCN is David's 3rd tournament on clay (11-1) and Nico's 4th (15-2).
Impressive numbers, mostly racked up during the S. American swing in Feb.
Can they step up and threaten Rafa's reign on European dirt this year?
Barcelona ATP 500 - Second Round
Ivan Dodig d 3 Robin Soderling - 62 64
So Robin started his season winning 3 of his first 4 tournaments...
Now he is riding a bummer of a slump.
For his last 3 tournies (IW, Miami and now BCN) he has a W/L of 2-3.
Robin was the runner-up in '10 - #6 Ferrer will look to close the gap on him.
Wasn't it just a minute ago Robin was rockin' the #4 ranking?
Not defending points well - that's part of the deal.
Photo: Reuters
5 WC Fernando Verdasco d 2 Robin Soderling - 63 46 63
This was only the 3rd final contested between 2 top ten players this year.
Fern captured his 5 career title & 2nd of 2010 following his win in Memphis.
It wasn't easy - 3 of his 5 matches were long 3 set affairs.
And he was 2 points from defeat in his 3rd round match vs Jurgen Melzer.
This is the biggest title of his career and 1st at the ATP 500 level.
A Spaniard has won in BCN 8 years running: Nadal (5), Robredo (1), Moya (1).
Fern will gain 490 ranking points - not enough move him up from #9 tomorrow.
Fern has now played 2 consecutive Sunday finals - losing in Monte Carlo.
He next heads to Rome (which began today) & one feels he must be tired.
Fernando certainly has earned a place on the Roland Garros favorites list.
Photo: Getty Images
From the sound of the Bryan Brothers tweet they should be thankful the flight is only a few hours!
1. Packing up, listening to Coldplay. Have this routine down. Adios Barcelona. Thanks for the good times. Rome here we come.
2. What do you get when you mix 60 Italian teens, Rafa, & Vueling Airlines? One crazy ass flight! Finally in Rome. Hallelujah!
Sounds like pure hell - the 60 teens part.
2 Robin Soderling vs 5 WC Fernando Verdasco - H2H: 4-1
Both boys are looking for their 2nd titles on the season.
They are both 1-1 in finals in 2010.
This is Fern's 2nd straight final - he lost last week to Nadal in Monte Carlo.
Robin has 5 titles & is looking for his 2nd outdoors and on clay.
***
Semifinal Results
5 WC Fernando Verdacso d 8 David Ferrer - 67(3) 75 61
The Spanish pair sure engaged in an entertaining affair.
2 Robin Soderling d Thiemo De Bakker - 61 64
De Bakker came on toward the end - to no avail.
Photos: Reuters/Getty Images
Semifinal Matches Tomorrow
5 WC Fernando Verdasco vs 8 David Ferrer - H2H: 5-3
Ferrer is looking for his 3rd straight Barcelona final - he lost last 2 to Rafa.
Verdasco is looking for his 2nd straight tour final - he lost last week to Rafa.
2 Robin Soderling (above) vs Thiemo De Bakker - H2H: 0-0
Didn't I write on Monday that De Bakker was one to watch?
Robin is playing his 4th semi of the year - he's 1-2.
***
Quarterfinal Results
8 David Ferrer d 13 Thomaz Bellucci - 64 60
5 WC Fernando Verdasco d Ernests Gulbis - 62 76(4)
Thiemo De Bakker d 3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 64 36 63
Well, I figured there would be at least one upset today.
2 Robin Soderling d Eduardo Schwank - 62 63
Photo: Robin Soderling - AP
TOP HALF
8 David Ferrer (above) vs 13 Thomaz Bellucci - H2H: 1-0
They both won clay titles during the S. American swing in February.
Ferrer won their only meeting in Acapulco during his title run in Feb.
5 Fernando Verdasco vs Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 0-0
Fern has to be tired & Ern is coming on strong. Could be an upset here.
***
BOTTOM HALF
3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Thiemo De Bakker - H2H: 1-0
The score tomorrow may not reflect the 57 ranking spots between them.
2 Robin Soderling vs Eduardo Schwank - H2H: 1-0
Schwank (hehe) is playing in his 3rd tour level quarterfinal of the year.
Photo: David Ferrer post-match - Getty Images
THIRD ROUND
2 Robin Soderling d 16 Feliciano Lopez - 63 62
3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d 15 Nicolas Almagro - 57 61 64
5 WC Fernando Verdasco (above) d 11 Jurgen Melzer - 36 76(1) 63
Thiemo de Bakker d 7 Juan Carlos Ferrero - 76(2) 36 76(4)
8 David Ferrer d Q Sinome Bolelli 60 30 ret.
13 Thomasz Bellucci d Guillermo Garcia-Lopez - 64 64
Ernests Gulbis d Q Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 61 63
Eduardo Schwank d LL Ivan Navarro - 63 76(7)
Photo: Fernando Verdasco - Getty images
3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d 15 Nicolas Almagro - 57 61 64
Oddly enough - that's exactly how I feel today!
And Yesterday. And tomorrow. And...
Photo: Reuters
#700 with Lleyton Hewitt d 6 Lukasz Kubot & Oliver Marach - 64 76(0)
Only 4 other players have won 700 doubles matches on the ATP tour: Todd Woodbridge (782), Daniel Nestor (745), Sherwood Stewart (723) and Jonas Bjorkman (709). Many of Mark's 700 wins came with long-time former partner Daniel Nestor - who is now teamed with Nenad Zimonjic. They could meet in the Barcelona final.
The 38 year-old from the Bahamas has won 52 doubles ATP titles including 3 Slams with Nestor: '02 Aussie, '04 Us Open and '07 Roland Garros.
Other than Nestor, with whom he won 40 titles, his other winning doubles partners have included Jim Courier (1), Max Mirnyi (1), Mike Bryan (1), Mardy Fish (1) and Mahesh Bhupathi (4).
He won his 1st title with Courier in Montreal in 1993. His best year was '02 when he and Nestor won 7 titles, including the Aussie Open and 3 Masters 1000 trophies.
He is currently ranked #8 in doubles. Although he did enjoy the #1 ranking for 55 non-consecutive weeks between '02-'05.
Overall his doubles win/loss record is 700-338.
In his presser Mark elaborated, "It’s a great milestone. It reflects a pretty good career and I've had some great partners along the way to get me to that milestone. It's exciting [and] it's been a very challenging year. Every win is special these days based on the year I've had with injuries."
SECOND ROUND
3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d Jan Hajek - 63 62
Q Albert Ramos-Vinolas d 4 Fernando Gonzalez - 64 67(8) 63
5 WC Fernando Verdasco d Richard Gasquet - 75 63
7 Juan Carlos Ferrero d Sergiy Stakhovsky - 63 42 ret.
8 David Ferrer d WC Marvel Granollers - 75 64
11 Jurgen Melzer d Oscar Hernandez - 67(4) 75 75
Eduardo Schwank (above) d 12 Lleyton Hewitt - 76(3) 64
13 Thomaz Bellucci d Victor Hanescu - 62 16 75
16 Feficiano Lopez d Denis Istomin - 76(7) 75
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez d LL T Gabashvili (RUS) 16 76(5) 64
Q Sinome Bolelli d WC Alberto Martin - 76(2) 76(1)
Thiemo de Bakker d Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 76(5) 63
Ernests Gulbis d Jeremy Chardy - 63 62
Photo: Eduardo Schwank - Getty Images
Rafael Nadal Wins 8th ATP Title at Barcelona
Barcelona ATP 500 - Men's Final
2 Rafael Nadal d 4 Nicolas Almagro - 64 63
This is Rafa's 8th title at BCN - he's only lost 1 match here - 10 years ago.
This marks his 54th title and 39th on clay.
He is now 13-0 against fellow Spaniards in finals. And 10-0 against Nico.
If that weren't enough - Rafa is the only man to win 2 tournies 8 times.
And he'll be looking for an 8th in about a month at Roland Garros.
Post: I feel very happy to lift the trophy once again here in Barcelona.
It means a lot especially after the difficult year I’ve had.
But what a comeback: 6 finals in 6 tournies - winning 4 of them.
In fact, he is the tour leader is titles so far in 2013.
Talk about a big vamos.
And the point of the match - Rafa's twenner realness:
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