Nadal to Face Monfils in the Quarterfinals of the 59th Barcelona Open
In men’s action at the 59th Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona in Spain, hometown favorite Rafael Nadal defeated Columbian Santiago Giraldo, 6-3, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinals match against Frenchman Gael Monfils who defetade his fellow countryman Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 7-6 (7). Nadal has an overall record of 28-1 at the Barcelona Open and a 7-1 lifetime record against Monfils.
“You have to remember that (Monfils) is a player who has made it to the semifinals of Roland Garros, he’s in the top 10,” said Nadal. “I imagine that tomorrow he will come out aggressive, so I will have to make him play as far back as possible.”
In other men’s action, David Ferrer, the number four seed, beat Romanian Victor Hanescu, 6-3, 6-2, and will advance to face Austrian Jurgen Melzer who defeated Albert Montanes of Spain, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2. Spaniard Nicolas Almagro also advances with his 7-6 (2), 6-3 win over Russian Nikolay Davydenko. Almagro will face Juan Carlos Ferrero, who beat Italian Simone Vagnozzi, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 in his third match since returning from wrist and knee surgery in October.
Ivan Dodig from Croatia, who upset the number three seed Robin Soderling on Wednesday, defeated 15th-seeded Milos Raonic, 7-6 (0), 4-6, 6-3. Dodig advances to play Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who defeated Japan’s Kei Nishikori, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
