RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON THE TENNIS IN SPAIN, NADAL AIMING FOR NINTH BARCELONA TITLE, BEGINS WEEK AGAINST ALMAGRO

Written by: Staff on 21st April 2015

Conde de Godo tennis tournament in Barcelona

RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON THE TENNIS IN SPAIN, NADAL AIMING FOR NINTH BARCELONA TITLE, BEGINS WEEK AGAINST ALMAGRO

epa04714419 Spain's Rafael Nadal looks at his damaged racket during a training session for the Conde de Godo tennis tournament at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, Spain, 21 April 2015. EPA/ANDREU DALMAU |

By Ricky Dimon

It has been a tough year for Rafael Nadal as he returns from an injury-plagued 2014 campaign. Lowlights include a quarterfinal loss to Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open and early exits in both Indian Wells and Miami.

But Nadal may have turned a corner in Monte-Carlo, where it took only a red-hot Novak Djokovic to stop him. By contrast, the Spaniard fell to Milos Raonic in Indian Wells and to Fernando Verdasco in Miami. Nadal’s week in Monte-Carlo included a victory over David Ferrer before he went down to Djokovic 6-3, 6-3–in a high-quality contest despite what the scoreline suggests.

“The week in Monte-Carlo was the most positive of the year so far for me,” Nadal explained. “I didn’t have any ups and downs, only very positive moments. But you can’t win just on these moments, only with consistency, by not committing errors. I have gained in confidence and security.”

The former world No. 1 will now look for a title at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, which would be the ninth of his career at this event. He is 42-2 lifetime in Barcelona.

RICKY DIMON REPORTS ON THE TENNIS IN SPAIN, NADAL AIMING FOR NINTH BARCELONA TITLE, BEGINS WEEK AGAINST ALMAGRO

Following a first-round bye, Nadal will kick things off during second-round action on Wednesday against Nicolas Almagro. The two Spaniards will be squaring off for the 13th time in their careers, with the head-to-head series standing at 11-1 in Nadal’s favor after he cruised 6-4, 6-2 last month on the hard courts of Miami. They have faced each other three times in Barcelona, where Almagro scored his only win via a 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 decision in 2014. Nadal is still 8-1 lifetime against his countryman on clay.

Almagro is coming off a quarterfinal appearance in Monte-Carlo and he eased through his Barcelona opener on Tuesday by getting a retirement from Paolo Lorenzi at 3-0 in the first set.

“Almagro is a great player and always a dangerous opponent,” Nadal said during a press conference. “I have to try to find my way, but it will be difficult against Nico.”

While Nadal often stretches the truth to build up his opponents and downplay his own chances, in this case his words are accurate. Almagro is a difficult opponent this early in the tournament, but the favorite’s confidence stemming from Monte-Carlo and his history of success in Barcelona should help him advance.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal (R) listens to his coach, his uncle Toni Nadal (L) during a training session for the Conde de Godo tennis tournament at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, Spain, 21 April 2015. EPA/ANDREU DALMAU

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp, Barcelona, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Spain, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

April 21, 2015 at 7:36 pm

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Dimonator says:

April 21, 2015 at 8:15 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator REPORTS ON THE #TENNIS IN #SPAIN, #NADAL AIMING FOR NINTH #BARCELONA TITLE, BEGINS WEEK AGAINST #ALMAGRO- htt…