ATP Barcelona - Thursday Schedule: Rafael Nadal faces David Ferrer
The all Spanish clash between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer headlines the Thursday schedule in Barcelona. It will be their 32th meeting on the ATP Tour, Ferrer won their first one back in 2004 Stuttgart on clay when Nadal was just 18 years old but the world No. 2 leads head to head 25-6. Rafael won their most recent match in the last year's US Open first round when Ferrer retired due to an injury in the middle of the second set. Unlike his compatriot Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger-Aliassime is showing some good skills on clay too and he will try to be a threat for Kei Nishikori. The defending finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas will play against Jan-Lennard Struff for the second time in career, the Greek won a straight-set meeting in this year's Sofia Open just a couple of weeks after reaching his maiden semifinal at the Australian Open. Daniil Medvedev will start as a favorite against Mackenzie McDonald. The Russian already defeated the American once, in last month's Indian Wells.
Dominic Thiem will face Jaume Munar for the second time in career and second time in Barcelona too, as last year the Austrian defeated the Spaniard in a straight-set match. Thiem lost to the eventual finalist Dusan Lajovic last week in Monte Carlo, and in Barcelona two years ago he reached the championship clash losing to Nadal.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2vnGC6m
No comments