BARCELONA Open: Rafael Nadal vs Cameron Norrie in the quarterfinals
Norrie reached the last eight after Belgian eighth seed David Goffin retired injured. Goffin received treatment for a leg problem after seven games of the second set and, despite winning the next game, quit while down 6-0 3-5. Twenty-time Grand Slam winner Nadal beat Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-0 2-6 6-2 to set up a second meeting with Norrie.
The Spanish world number three beat the 25-year-old Briton in the third round of the Australian Open in February. Nadal is looking to claim a 12th Barcelona Open title, while Norrie's progress in the competition could see the British number two move back into the world's top 50.
Nishikori finally got on the scoreboard for 1-1 in the second set. With that hurdle behind him, he started teeing off on his forehand and made it three games in a row for 3-1, taking full control of the momentum. A former World No. 4, Nishikori is a two-time winner in Barcelona (2014 and 2015). He would earn a double-break and seal the set, marking the first time in history that Nadal has played a deciding set in back-to-back matches in Barcelona
0 Comment