Another week, another disappointing defeat for Rafael Nadal. One week after his 6-4 6-2 loss to Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo’s semifinal, Nadal was outplayed by Dominic Thiem, losing 6-4 6-4.
For the first time since 2004, Rafa has won no title in the first four months of the season. Could he enter Roland Garros without a clay-court title under his belt?
In the other semifinal, Daniil Medvedev overcame Kei Nishikori after a 3-set 6-4 3-6 7-5 thriller. It will be the Russian’s third final of the year after his loss in Brisbane and victory in Sofia.
Medvedev and Thiem only met once so far, in the St Petersburg quarterfinals last year, with Thiem winning in 3 sets.
Photo credit: Banco Sadabell
Read more:
– 2019 ATP clay-court season guide
– Barcelona Open 2019: Medvedev through the semifinals
– Barcelona Open 2019: Nadal and Thiem will face off in the semifinals
Nadal and Thiem will clash in the semifinals tomorrow in a rematch of last year’s Roland Garros final.
The Spaniard is clearly not at his best, but he delivered at crucial moments of his quarterfinal match to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5 7-5. The big serving German had beaten last year’s finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the previous round.
As for Indian Wells champion Dominic Thiem, he overpowered Guido Pella 7-5 6-2 to set up an exciting Nadal clash. The 11th-time Roland Garros champion leads their head to head by 8 victories to 3 (7 to 3 on clay).
Photo credit: Banco Sadabell
Read more:
– 2019 ATP clay-court season guide
– Barcelona Open 2019: Medvedev through the semifinals
Daniil Medvedev is the first player to qualify for the Barcelona semifinals thanks to his 6-3 6-4 victory over lucky-loser Nicolas Jarry. The Chilean had beaten Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov in the previous rounds.
Winner in Sofia, finalist in Brisbane, semi-finalist in Monte Carlo, Medvedev has a tour-leading 24-7 match record this season.
He will face Kei Nishikori for a place in the final. The Japanese defeated lucky-loser Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 7-5 to reach the semi-finals.
Medvedev and Nishikori met in the Brisbane final earlier this year, with the latter capturing the title after a 3-set battle.
Photo credit: Banco Sadabell
Read more:
– The Next Gen, 2 years after
– Sofia 2019: Medvedev cruises to the title
– Brisbane 2019: Nishikori claims the title
Rafa Nadal defeated David Ferrer 6-3 6-3 to advance to the Barcelona quarterfinals for the 13th time of his career, but it was all about Ferru today as he played his last match in Barcelona and will retire in Madrid in a few weeks time.
The former world number 3 is a true champion who always gave it all on court and has a trophy case most players can only dream of: 27 titles among them 10 ATP 500 and one Masters 1000 (Bercy 2012), 3 Davis Cups (2008, 2009, 2011). He reached the 2013 Roland Garros final (l. to Nadal), the Australian and US Open finals and the Wimbledon quarterfinals. He also recorded 54 top 10 wins, the last one being a victory over Zverev in Miami last month.
Photo credit: Banco Sadabell
A few days after his surprising semi-finals loss to Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal rallied from a set down to defeat Leonardo Mayer 6-7 6-4 6-2. In the next round he’ll face David Ferrer, who dismantled Australian Open semifinalist Lucas Pouille 6-3 6-1.
Monte-Carlo champion Fabio Fognini pulled out of the tournament citing a leg injury, while Alexander Zverev‘s bad season continues: he crashed out in the second round, beaten by lucky loser Nicolas Jarry 3-6 7-5 7-6.
Photo credit: Banco Sadabell
