Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal produced some flawless tennis on Saturday to advance to the final of the Barcelona Open with a 6-3, 6-3 semifinal victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber.
On Sunday, Rafa will play in the 57th clay-court final of his career, when he faces two-time defending champion Kei Nishikori, who beat French sixth seed Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-2.
After the match, Rafa said:
Today’s match had low rhythm and I made some mistakes. It wasn’t my best match here this week.
Nishikori is one of the best players in the world. It’ll be a tough match.
Photo via Barcelona Open
Rafa Nadal during the match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, corresponding to the 1/2 final of the Open Banc Sabadell, 64 Trophy Conde de Godo, played on the RCT Barcelona1899, on april 23, 2016. (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal during the match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, corresponding to the 1/2 final of the Open Banc Sabadell, 64 Trophy Conde de Godo, played on the RCT Barcelona1899, on april 23, 2016. (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
xxx during day two of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain walks on the clay duirng his match against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal during the match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, corresponding to the 1/2 final of the Open Banc Sabadell, 64 Trophy Conde de Godo, played on the RCT Barcelona1899, on april 23, 2016. (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal during the match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, corresponding to the 1/2 final of the Open Banc Sabadell, 64 Trophy Conde de Godo, played on the RCT Barcelona1899, on april 23, 2016. (Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Rafa Nadal reacts as he celebrates his victory over Fabio Fognini of Italy during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, April 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
xxx during day two of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber og Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
xxx during day two of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during day six of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on April 23, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber from Germany during the Barcelona open tennis tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, April 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Photo via Barcelona Open
Photo via Barcelona Open
Photo via Barcelona Open
Rafa a jolly good match and all the best for tomorrow with Kei.
Love and God bless,
AlaineXX
Congratulations Rafael. Always such a joy to see you win. You will always be the King of Clay win or lose today, but I shall be praying for you to serve strongly n win. Go Rafa go is the Aussie winning chant. Vamos Rafa. God bless you. Love your Aussie Abuela. 🏆🏆👑👑😀😊🎈🎈
Parabéns Nadal!!!!
Você joga de mais!!!!
Vamos ganhar do Nshikori amanhã
It’s so good to see you BACK!
I love me some RAFA!!!!😁
Boa sorte Rafa! Sempre Rafa!
GENIAL RAFA GO ON !
gosh such great news to come home too.
CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP ALL THE WAY TO THE TROPHY.
GUYS,……………………… he’s doing it.
RAFA fan forever.
The king of tennis is back.we wish you all the luck and the best for tomorrow’s final
Nothing less than winners trophy will do
Remember GOD is with you
You are the greatest
Jay Thaker
Hmmm…..
What’s up? You’ve been using “hmm” for awhile now…
Nothing good to come up with, now that Rafa is making some progress?
Are you stuck? Can you ask someone to stop pressing the repeat button…
A very best luck for tomorrow’s match
vamos rafa …
Rafa played a really great game today, and his comeback is now becoming more consistent and stable. Hopefully he will continue this trend in Madrid and Rome, it will certainly be great for his confidence and put him on a solid trajectory to beat Nole if they meet at RG.
Opponents like Dustin Brown who exploited his vulnerable confidence in the past, can forget their ‘got nothing to lose, and go for every shot’ tactic. Kohlschreiber tried it today and it didn’t work!
Confident that he will beat Nishikori tomorrow, and move on strongly. He is now officially 2nd in the singles race! VAMOS RAFA!!!!!
congrats rafa for the win
What u said after match was good thatbu accepted the problem
but point is there will be moments in the matches where u will not play as good unwanted and that’s where u need the confidencw to belive in u to turn up the things
Actually iam happy yesterday and today there was that moment andnu were able tonturn things up
today u did hit some shot into the service box area and as he was getting in it caused trouble
In this phase its really a sucide to hit short
so get consistent there
What was really good u pulled up some aces on important points so that a thing to take forward
u hit some amazing down the line backhands and straight forehands on backhand side
Tomorrow just be calm but remeber to have anger in ur attitude ….kie playing well scoreline suggest but u just need to continue the same things ……as we know for u there always a room for improvement
So practice well
Vamos rafa
stay healthy
Congrats Rafa. Good luck for tomorrwo.
Yours to win, Rafael! Stay tough, burn bright! Confidence is surging with every win. Fantastic to see warrior mentality. Fight on💪👊💪👊💪👊💪👊💪🏆❤️
awesome CanaDiana well said, without a word of arrogance which we Rafa fans can easily aspire too, following his 9th straight win in 2 weeks. It is so easy for his fans to get caught up in the excitement of seeing Rafa enjoying success, something we have waited for, for a very long time, It is wonderful exciting and thrilling to see him sweeping through games in victorious fashion
long may it continue Vamos Rafa.
Congrats!!!!
Onwards and upwards!!!
Vamos x 10!!
Vamos Rafa!