ATP Barcelona Blog — Day 5; Battling Elements, Nadal a Winner

By Jill Neuharth

The heat is on both literally and figuratively. My personal battle with the elements took a slightly different turn today. Enduring both windburn and frostbite earlier this week, I can now add sunburn. Given the choice I’ll take the latter anytime.
ADHEREL
Court No. 1 at 1 p.m. was the hot spot for doubles fans. Apparently Central Court was the spot for Spanish fans so needless to say I had room to stretch out. No. 4-seeded team Aspelin-Knowle wrestled with No. 5 seed Coetzee-Ullyett. Scandinavians don’t really strike me as the most passionate of folks, might be on account of all that ice up there. Aspelin, however did a really nice take-off of a Latin hissy fit. Rather conservative by a true prima donna standard, but fairly incendiary for a Swede. I guess if I double faulted to lose the game, I might be a bit incensed as well. The second set ended in a tiebreak victory for the Coetzee-Ullyett team to bring about, you guessed it, another tiebreak. Aspelin shouldn’t have to dwell on the fault as they took the tiebreak 10-4. The only cost was about an extra 30 minutes in the sun for me, so thanks for the sunburn Simon.

Aspelin-Knowle will next face 12th ranked and No. 7 seed Fyrstenberg-Matkowski who from here on out will simply be known as the Poles because typing their names is almost as bad as having to pronounce them. The Poles vanquished Ancic-Zverev, the alternates when Tipsarevic injured his ankle. Hopefully the Poles appreciate the Ancic-Zverev efforts on their behalf. They knocked out both Haase-Karlovic AND second seed Nestor-Zimonjic. Last and well, probably least exciting, Lopez-Verdasco crashed the Argentine Nalbandian-Ker soiree in two quick sets, 7-5, 6-2.

Call me crazy, but I’m not sure Tommy Robredo liked his birthday gift from David Ferrer. After an hour-plus marathon of a first set, Ferrer led Robredo 7-6. The second-seeded Ferrer blew out Robredo’s candles for the second time in a month, trouncing him 6-4 in the second. Fellow Spaniard and Barcelona resident Albert Montanes was sent home, good thing it is not too far, by the OTHER Swiss player. Wawrinka’s score, a creepy 6-6-6 (6-3, 6-7, 6-4). Still playing on Central Court are Alfaro and Gremelmayr. As of 8:30 the score is 6-2 for the German. Sorry to say you will not find out the result here, I’m hungry and my dinner plans await.

So, I keep thinking I am forgetting something. Oh yeah, Rafael Nadal played today as well. That was where I was going with the opening heat comment and I fear I have gotten off track. Big news of the day, Nadal won. Considering he has won 101 of his last 102 matches on clay, I supposed that shouldn’t be too much of a shocker. Here is my big prediction for tomorrow: Nadal has a 99% chance of a victory. I’ll even go out on a limb to say the same is true for Sunday. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first one to stuff my high-heeled foot back in my mouth.

Special note for poster Rod: Do you approve of my new verbiage? Editing is not my forte so feel free to take that job on yourself. Kiss Kiss