TENNIS – Fabio Fognini beat eight-time Barcelona champion Rafa Nadal 6-4 7-6 (8-6) for the second time this year two months after his first upset victory in the previous match in the semifinals in Rio de Janeiro. It was the second time Fognini beat Nadal in their six head-to-head matches. Diego Sampaolo
Fognini converted on his second break point opportunity at 4-5 30-40 with a forehand volley winner. The first four games of the second set were marked by three breaks of serve.
Nadal opened up a 3-1 lead but Fognini bounced back. Nadal broke serve three times in the second set but Fognini broke back each time. Fognini converted only one of his three break points when Nadal was serving at 4-5 in the opening set.
The secod set featured six breaks of serve, Nadal converted on his seventh break point chance after a very long game which featured six deuces. Fognini was able to break straight back. In the 10th game Nadal trailed 0-40 as he was serving for the set at 5-4. Fognini converted on his third break point.
The second set came down to the tie-break where Fognini went up 6-3. Nadal fended off three match points in the tie-break to draw level to 6-6. Fognini brought up a fourth match point with his serve and converted when Nadal hit his forehand long to hand Fognini the win
Fognini has become the second player after Novak Djokovic to beat Nadal twice in the same season on clay. Before today Fognini had never won a single maind draw match in five appearances in the Barcelona tournament.
Fognini hit 34 winners to 35 unforced errors, while Nadal hit 17 winners to 30 unforced errors. Fognini won 70 percent of his first serve points, while Nadal won just 58 percent of his first serve points.
“Beating a player who is the greatest in history on this surface is worth double. I knew I had my chances today and I just tried to keep to my game plan and give it my all”, said Fognini.
Fognini set up a quarter final match against Pablo Andujar who beat Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4.
“This is a blow for me. I must accept the challenge and the negative day I had today. There is no other way forward other to accept it or die. It is a hard day for me. I will keep working. I am convinced that this situation of ups and downs I have had since returning from injuries will come to an end. My forehand did not have enough power and I did not enough control. My forehand has been my biggest virtue but today it was vulgar. It wasn’t a forehand worthy of my ranking and career. I need my forehand to push my opponent back”, said Nadal.
Defending champion Kei Nishikori converted on five of his nine break points to ease past Santiago Giraldo 6-2 6-1 in a re-match of last year’s final. The Japanese star will face Roberto Bautista Agut who beat Pablo Cuevas 7-6 (7-5) 6-2
David Ferrer beat Swedish rising star of Ethiopian origin Elias Ymer 6-3 6-4 setting up a quarter final against Philip Kohlschreiber who edged Benoit Paire 6-4 7-6 (8-6).
Martin Klizan overcame 34-year-old Victor Estrella Burgos 6-4 6-3 and will take on Tommy Robredo who cruised past Marcel Granollers 6-2 6-2
