Nadal cruises to Barcelona final

Eurosport - Sat, 25 Apr 17:42:00 2009

World number one Rafael Nadal beat Russian third seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open to stay on course for a fifth straight title at the Catalan event.

TENNIS 2009 ATP Barcelona Nadal R. - Gil F. - 0

In a repeat of last year's final, the Spanish top seed will play compatriot David Ferrer on Sunday after the fourth seed came back from a set down to defeat fifth-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 2-6 6-2 7-6.

World number eight Davydenko had three break points early in the match but failed to capitalise and Nadal found his range on the clay in breezy conditions to break twice and take the opening set.

After losing his serve again in the second set, Davydenko failed to convert chances to break back and Nadal sealed victory on the Russian's serve on his first match point with a thumping backhand drive that caught the line.

"It wasn't a great performance but I didn't make too many errors," the 22-year-old Mallorcan said.

"It was a hard match, even if that is not necessarily reflected in the result."

Nadal has only lost four times on clay since 2005, most recently to fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of last year's Rome Masters.

"Tomorrow I will try to play at my best and if I manage that then I am confident of my chances," he said.

Ferrer looked well out of sorts in the opening set against the big-hitting Gonzalez but rediscovered his form to take the second with two breaks of the Chilean's serve.

He was broken when serving for the match at 5-3 in the final set but recovered to win the tiebreak 7-5, clinching victory when Gonzalez netted a forehand.

Sunday's final could be affected by the heavy showers that are forecast for the Barcelona area.

Reuters

Comment 7 - 26 of 26

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  1. Thank you very much Rhymes for your loyal defence, you­ are indeed one class act!!

    From Nicholas, on Sun 26 Apr 10:32PM

  2. In the same way that I was p++sed off by the attack on­ my virtual buddy ralph r the other day, I can't get­ my head round the thumbs down for RC for a perfectly­ amiable and amusing post. FFS, get it together folks.

    From rhymes450, on Sun 26 Apr 9:26PM

  3. What? Less than 2 hours to the final btwn Rafa and­ Ferrer and there's no write up?
    Is it because its a­ Sunday? or that Murray isn't playing or that nobody­ in eurosport gives a @#$%?
    Maybe its all of the above.

    From vamos.rafa, on Sun 26 Apr 8:24PM

  4. It's almost done.Rafa wins Barcelona.I'm­ looking forward to see rematch between Rafa and Novak­ in Rome

    From Miodrag, on Sun 26 Apr 7:37PM

  5. well done rafa u r the best ,i like ur­ hardworking,specialy challenging other players.u r a­ real fighter

    From sunny, on Sun 26 Apr 5:57PM

  6. true i agree as well didn't like rafa at 1st but­ then i dunno there something about him that makes u­ wanna cheer 4 for him espcially at beating fed

    From savira b, on Sun 26 Apr 5:19PM

  7. I thought Nadal had never won the Foro Italico­ trophy...

    From hadjeseles, on Sun 26 Apr 5:18PM

  8. i agree with you with 100% nadal is Something special­ he have Something different thats whay we love him so­ much

    From rafaelo807, on Sun 26 Apr 4:33PM

  9. Good point Webbski. Something special about Rafa that­ inspires goodwill. Cheers

    From rhymes450, on Sun 26 Apr 4:21PM

  10. Rafa is making his mark,its getting to the point that­ it is impossible for any player to get a set of him­ none the less to beat him on clay.

    From kirovrtanoski, on Sun 26 Apr 3:55PM

  11. well done Rafa, u don't disappoint, each time u are­ saddled with the responsibility of giving us a good­ game that's why we remain ur fans. u ill surely win­ tomorrow as David Ferrer smashes his racket again the­ red stuff... welldone Rafa

    From kenozz, on Sun 26 Apr 2:55PM

  12. Prof Webbski I think the reason must be that you have­ become soft in your old age!

    From Nicholas, on Sun 26 Apr 8:43AM

  13. With Federer at his best, I always wanted someone to­ beat him, despite liking his play more than anyone­ elses. However, I just don't want Rafa to lose. Why­ is that?

    From webbski, on Sun 26 Apr 7:42AM

  14. Fair dues to David Ferrer. This is his second ATP final­ of 2009, after a disastrous second half of 2008. Coming­ on the back of a heavy defeat last week against­ Verdasco, those are good wins against Robredo and­ Gonzalez. Good luck to him tomorrow. He'll need it,­ for sure. The other semi was disappointing. After­ threatening to break early on, Davydenko's­ challenge disintegrated and in his eagerness to­ dictate, he was mistiming his backhand badly. Mind you,­ when Rafa is pounding you with huge topspin forehands,­ it can't be easy. Still, I was hoping for more from­ Davy. The question now is whether anyone can mount a­ serious challenge to Rafa on clay this year or if­ Djokovic's show of defiance at MC will turn out to­ be the peak of what the best of the rest can offer. I­ always prefer to think that this isn't a procession­ and that nobody is unbeatable, but with Rafa, you begin­ to wonder...

    From rhymes450, on Sun 26 Apr 6:36AM

  15. I thought the Gonzo vs Ferrer match more exciting than­ the Rafa vs Davydenko match.
    I hope Rafa up his game­ with Ferrer tomorrow. Rafa wasn't really his best­ today.
    He just did enough to get thru.

    From y.soserius, on Sun 26 Apr 12:58AM

  16. #9 lindashake09 and all yr dumb a.s.s desperate­ friends, get off this site and peddle your wares­ elsewhere.
    You can't be that amazing if you have to­ write every hour on every article, so beat it!

    From y.soserius, on Sun 26 Apr 12:56AM

  17. Come on Rafa should be a very good final vs Ferrer good­ luck to you both.

    From AJ, on Sun 26 Apr 12:44AM

  18. i just can't get enough of my boy raf. his reign is­ so much beta dan fed's cos he wins everywhere. no­ competition.

    From A.J pumpin, on Sun 26 Apr 12:19AM

  19. None of these medicres sudo tennis players can beat Don­ Rafael Nadal.
    They can not even convert with 3 break­ points.
    They just get defeated even the match­ starts.
    What a mediocracy, isn't it the sport to­ compete and do your best when you are playing?
    What are­ they afraid to spend 10 hours playing tennis with­ Nadal?
    Have they seen elephants fell?
    What a mediocracy­ on tennis, there is only one tennis players. uuuuuuuuuu

    From Prophet, on Sun 26 Apr 12:04AM

  20. Nadal uncorked the champagne tennis in the last 3­ games. At 4-2 and service in the 2nd he was taken to­ deuce but the last point was perfect with forehands to­ both sidelines followed by a lovely volley. After that,­ with 5-2 on the board he loosened up and the last two­ games were a series of sparkling, creative and­ relentless winners. Important if uneven match by Rafa,­ helped by 30 UEs from Davydenko's backhand. Maybe­ there's a sign that he's seeing the ball better­ and getting the timing right.

    From James W, on Sat 25 Apr 11:52PM
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