ATP BARCELONA and BUCHAREST: Nadal and Nishikori march on, Paire and Fognini also reach last 8

ATP 500 Barcelona :

Rafael Nadal stays in the chase for his 9th Barcelona crown after beating fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-2 6-2 in round 3 to reach the quarter-final. This was their 4th meeting and Nadal won all of them in straight sets, not losing more than 3 games per set, with first one played in 2005 when Rafa was 18. Today’s match lasted 67 minutes, as Nadal broke his rival 5 times from 7 chances he created. Montanes, who is in good form in the last few weeks, managed to stay in touch with a great opponent in the first part of the first set, but that was all he had the strength for. Nadal went in front with a break in the second game but he surprisingly let his serve in the next game, as Montanes leveled the score at 2-2. He also reached 2 deuces on Nadal’s serve in game 5 but was not able to create break points, and after that Nadal took full control. He won 5 games in a row with a double break to take the first set 6-2, …

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