Another Easy Win For Nadal In Barcelona, Dimitrov Saves MPs v Jaziri
Rafael Nadal upped his clay win streak to 16 and his set streak on dirt to 40 after pounding countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1, 6-3 in the third round at the Barcelona Open.
“I am in a good dynamic,” Nadal said. “And it is normal that after last week in Montecarlo I fell a bit, but I think today I played better than yesterday, although after the match with Roberto Carballes I ended up with better sensations”.
Nadal, who is seeking an 11th title at the event, will next meet Martin Klizan in the quarterfinals Friday. After stunning Novak Djokovic in three, the qualifier Klizan took out 12 seed Feliciano Lopez.
Grigor Dimitrov was pushed to the brink and then some by Malek Jaziri 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8). Jaziri held match points at 5-6, 30-40 in the third and again at 8-7 in the deciding breaker.
Dimitrov next faces Pablo Carreno Busta in the quarters. The Spaniard also had to save match points, vanquishing three in a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6) victory over Adrian Mannarino.
Dominic Thiem powered through a tough first set then cruised over Jozek Kovalik 7-6, 6-2. The Austrian gets youngster Stefano Tsitsipas who impressed with a 6-4, 7-6 win over former French quarterfinalist Alberto Romos.
In the other quarter, comeback story David Goffin will face Roberto Bautista Agut.
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