Rafa Nadal Beats David Ferrer One Last Time In Barcelona Tennis 2019

Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal (L) embraces fellow countryman David Ferrer (R) after his victory in their third round men’s single match of the 67th Barcelona Open Trofeo Conde de Godo tennis tournament, in Barcelona, Spain, 25 April 2019. EPA-EFE/Enric Fontcuberta

 

 

Nadal beats Ferrer one last time in Barcelona, Jarry keeps run going into quarterfinals

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

David Ferrer played his final match at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Thursday afternoon, but there was no shame in the way in which he went out.

 

Ferrer, who is retiring at next month’s Madrid Masters, lost to 11-time Barcelona champion–not to mention 11-time French Open champion–Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-3 during third-round action. Despite the somewhat lopsided scoreline, the 37-year-old made Nadal work for one hour and 56 minutes.

 

It was a different Nadal, too, from the one who had been on displaying during a lackluster three-setter against Leonardo Mayer one day earlier. The second-ranked Spaniard raised his level to hold eight of his nine service games while breaking Ferrer on four occasions.

 

“Big difference,” Nadal noted. “It was a tough match in all ways yesterday. Today was a different energy–a different motivation. In general terms,I needed to play with a different attitude to make a step forward, and that’s what I did today.

 

“It has been an emotional day,” he added, referencing his good friend and countryman. “Happy of course for the victory but very sad to say goodbye to one good friend and one friend [with whom] we shared all of these things…during our careers. It was a tough moment, but I really hope that he’s very happy with this decision and (that) he’s able to do whatever he wants.”

 

Nadal, meanwhile, advances to face Jan-Lennard Struff in the quarterfinals. Struff sent Stefanos Tsitsipas packing with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 upset.

 

On the other side of the bracket, lucky loser Nicolas Jarry continued his run by beating Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(2). Jarry had previously ousted second-seeded Alexander Zverev. Jarry is joined in the last eight by another lucky loser, Roberto Carballes Baena.

 

Draw

Rafael Nadal…..d. Mayer…..d. Ferrer
Jan-Lennard Struff…..d. Dellien…..d. Goffin…..d. Tsitsipas

Dominic Thiem…..d. Schwartzman…..d. Munar
Guido Pella…..d. Sousa…..d. Khachanov…..d. Paire

Roberto Carballes Baena…..d. Kuhn…..d. Garin
Kei Nishikori…..d. Fritz…..d. Auger-Aliassime

Daniil Medvedev…..d. Ramos-Vinolas…..d. McDonald
Nicolas Jarry…..d. A. Zverev…..d. Dimitrov

 

Seeds

1. Rafael Nadal: vs. Struff in quarterfinals
2. Alexander Zverev: l. to Jarry in third round
3. Dominic Thiem: vs. Pella in quarterfinals
4. Kei Nishikori: vs. Carballes Baena in quarterfinals
5. Stefanos Tsitsipas: l. to Struff in third round
6. Karen Khachanov: l. to Pella in second round
7. Daniil Medvedev: vs. Jarry in quarterfinals
8. Fabio Fognini: WITHDREW
9. Denis Shapovalov: l. to Garin in second round
10. David Goffin: l. to Struff in second round
11. Gilles Simon: l. to McDonald in second round
12. Pablo Carreno Busta: l. to Paire in second round
13. Grigor Dimitrov: l. to Jarry in third round
14. Frances Tiafoe: l. to Munar in second round
15. Lucas Pouille: l. to Ferrer in second round
16. Felix Auger-Aliassime: l. to Nishikori in third round

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.