Nadal Makes It Win Number 43
Defending champion Rafael Nadal beat Feliciano Lopez 6-4 6-2 in the second round of the Barcelona Open and extended his unbeaten run on clay to 43 matches.
The Spaniard broke twice in each set against his fellow countryman to set up a clash with another compatriot - qualifier Ivan Navarro-Pastor.
His winning sequence is now just three behind second-placed Bjorn Borg on the all-time list.
Nadal said: “I know from experience that the first two rounds are very difficult.”
“I know that if I can win the first two rounds then it gets a bit easier after that.”
Fellow Spaniards Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo, Ivan Navarro Pastor and Alberto Portas also won their second-round matches.
Second seed Nikolay Davydenko lost 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 6-4 to giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who pounded down 19 aces.
Meanwhile former French Open champion Albert Costa’s career has come to an end after his defeat to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the third round of the Barcelona Open.
The 30-year-old, who last week said he would retire from tennis after this event, fought back after a poor opening set but ended up losing 6-1 5-7 7-5.
Costa won 12 career titles and defeated Ferrero to win the French Open in 2002.
Meanwhile, third seed Guillermo Coria served 14 double faults on the way to a 6-2 6-0 loss to Nicolas Almagro.
Coria, who reached the final of the French Open in 2004, has had problems with his serve of late and last week he recorded 23 double faults in one match in Monte Carlo.
“I have had problems on my serve ever since my operation in 2004 and I know it is not back to where it was,” said the world number nine said.
“It is all about confidence. But I am working with coach Jose Higueras and I hope that in three or four weeks I will be playing at a high level again.”
“The good thing is that if I am still winning matches when I am giving away so many gifts, then that shows my basic game is good.”
Spaniard Costa had recorded wins over Vince Spadea and eighth seed Dominik Hrbaty in the previous rounds before coming up against compatriot Ferrero.
After a one-sided opening set, Costa was able to level the score but Ferrero gained the vital break in the 11th game of the decider and served out for victory.
