Nadal, Ferrer Cruise Into Buenos Aires Quarterfinals

February 12, 2016 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo Credit: Lee Seidner

Rafael Nadal felt right at home playing once again on the Buenos Aires clay on Thursday. In a rematch of last year’s Argentina Open final, top-seed Nadal moved past Argentinean Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-4 to reach the tournament’s quarterfinals.

Despite Nadal dropping serve three times, but displayed an excellent return game, breaking Monaco five times in the match to advance in straight sets.

“I’m happy for the victory,” said Nadal. “The start was tough, as Juan is a good player and the big humidity here in Argentina made it difficult. I am happy to be through and hope to be ready for tomorrow.”

It wasn’t the cleanest match from Nadal. The Spaniard committed 15 unforced errors in the first set alone, but took advantage of an even rustier Monaco, who hadn’t played a tournament since August of last year following wrist surgery.

Up next for Nadal is Italian Paolo Lorenzi, who came back from a set down to defeat Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Thursday.

Nadal’s countryman, second-seed David Ferrer, rolled into the final eight in Buenos Aires with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Argentina’s Renzo Olivo 6-2, 6-2. Ferrer broke Olivo twice in each set and saved the only break point he faced to move on in one hour and 12 minutes.

Ferrer will take on another South American, Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas, in the quarterfinals. Cuevas beat Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 6-2 in his second-round match on Thursday. 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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