The draw for the Barcelona tournament is out. Rafael Nadal will start his title defense by playing the winner of a match between Rogerio Dutra Silva (No. 70) and Renzo Olivo (No. 93).
Seeds in Rafa’s half include A. Zverev, Kolhschrieber, Ferrer, Goffin, Cuevas, Sousa and Nishikori. Seeds in the other half are A. Murray, F. Lopez, Ramos-Vinolas, Bautista Agut, Thiem, M. Zverev, Gasquet and Carreno Busta.
Rafa’s potential route to the final:
- 1st round: Bye
- 2nd round: Rogerio Dutra Silva or Renzo Olivo
- 3rd round: Philipp Kolhschrieber
- Quarter-final: Alexander Zverev
- Semi-final: Kei Nishikori
- Final: Andy Murray
- Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut
- Dominic Thiem vs Pablo Carreno Busta
- Alexander Zverev vs Rafael Nadal
- David Goffin vs Kei Nishikori
For Rafa this will be his 13th participation at the tournament, where he will play for his 10th title. During Rafa’s 12 appearances in the City of Barcelona, he has compiled a 49-3 record.
UPDATED: Kei Nishikori has been forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a right wrist injury. Frenchman Benoit Paire will take his spot in the draw.
Source: ATP World Tour
Rafa, I am waiting with bated breath and wild anticipation to gaze upon your maiden-winning score tomorrow on the newly named Court Rafa Nadal.
Little did I know when I first saw you that I would be a witness to the illustrious career of one of the greatest tennis champions of all time. Thank you for the years of joy you have given, and keep giving. A fan could not have asked for more.
BEST OF LUCK AT BARCELONA
RAFA ROCKS
I don’t know about anyone else, but were I playing a Masters-level-final- tennis match, with the winner looking to gain 1,000 points, make that one-thousand points, and there was an obvious wrong call made against me, I would have performed a song, a dance, and played the orchestra. LOL
I am happy that David has put this behind him. Little was said here about David replaying the point. He went as far as saying the umpire is a nice guy. So glad he and Rafa were not affected by the whole thing. I think both of them deserve an applause for not permitting the media, the audience or fans take it further. Kudos!!!
RAFA ROCKS
I think there is no way an informed person can look at the score and insist that Rafa should not have won the match.
No, I am not a professional athlete and that is why I would love to hear answers from a medical doctor, a sports trainer, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and some professional athletes, as to why David lost the second set at such a disastrous level. Who can say we won’t end up with a “potpourri” of answers.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa, you had easy final and semi-final matches at MC so you will probably go into Barcelona fresh and in great shape. Stay focused, KNOW you can win this and I hope your maiden match on Pista Rafa Nadal is a joyous and proud one for you. A maiden voyage is never forgotten.
BEST OF TENNIS TO YOU RAFA
RAFA ROCKS
RAFA ROCKS
Good luck on the court named after you.
And isnt that fantastic – especially while rafa is still playing!
Good luck for the tournament <3
An update to the Bracelona draw. Kei has withdrawn. What is strange is that he was already in Barcelona practicing. Maybe he reinjured himself?
Geez, I hope he’s okay.
RAFA ROCKS
A bad call was made. Not the fault of Rafa. David lost the first set after the bad call, not Rafa’s “fault.” Rafa won the first set. Do you blame the umpire or David?
Should have, could have, would have. Rafa won the match. I blame Rafa for getting through such a turbulent match. Good for him. Yes, he is a professional.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, As you know, many commies are saying that Rafa should have conceded the point even though he was not at all to blame for the umpire’s actions. That was behind some of the boos too.
Hiya va4favre… If I were Rafa I can’t say how I would have reacted. The match is over and Rafa has been declared the winner. Is it a fact that Rafa knew what happened?
I think that thing for fans; tournament directors, commentators, and the media to do now is find a solution to prevent a recurrence. No? That could have been a match point for any opponent. Awful.
My thinking anyway.
RAFA ROCKS
Well done Rafa, despite the crowd being stupid enough not to acknowledge that the umpire’s bad decision was nothing to do with you. Cedric Murier must be wishing he had never gone over to check the mark, especially after he sees the hawk eye review 😩
I know this was a massive opportunity for Goffin, and it’s obviously why he was so emotional, but he has to get the disappointment out of his system and fast. The top players put situations like this behind them and dig their heels in. A lesson for an extremely talented player like Goffin to learn. We have seen Rafa come back from behind many times, and I think He would have changed things up and won in the end. Onwards and upwards Rafa. Get yourself fit and ready for the final tomorrow!
Well said! I think Rafa played some of the best tennis on clay after the controversial call. I don’t think Goffin could have maintained the high level he was playing at the beginning of match, especially after the tough match yesterday. Best of luck tomorrow!
Rafa, you overcame the boos, the rude crowd, and the somber atmosphere, any any pressure you may have had with respect to expectations. As you told one journalist not too long ago, “I’m 30 years old; after having the career that I have, is not a question of pressure.” Keep proudly wearing your champion badge.
Enough about “tainted” match. “A win is a win.” Rafa’s words.
CONGRATULATIONS RAFA
In his post-match interview, Rafa indicated that once he sealed his spot in the final, he was whistled at in approval for being a finalist. I stand with Rafa.
Rafa did say that people may not know what is really going on on court and that may explain the boos, etc.
RAFA ROCKS
Congrats RAFA and all his fans
I did not see the match but heard about some bad call against Goffin. This is professional sports but mistakes do happen, I heard the crowd was booing as well and supposedly Goffin gave up ( don’t know and don’t care) if that’s the case you play on to win. All I can say is:
RAFA, go forth my dear, you earned it. Celebrate, take your points and prize money and keep moving you have 1 more match to play against a fellow spaniard.
I must mention that Pete Bodo a sports writer wrote that RAFA was unsportsmanlike. This dodo (no mistake) never liked RAFA and has written negative things about him. Everyone is entitled to his opinion but against RAFA doesn’t work here.
So, happy days reign. And to our king , RAFA ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
RAFA fan forever.
Susie, highlights – SkySport3 at 23.40 or SkySport5 at 20.00
Oh you are a star – thanx Maria. Do you think the crowd tomorrow are currently practicing their boos. Outrageous – they ruined the whole match and I’m sure that kind of support did nothing to help goffin shake it off!
YEH………………………YEH…………………………….YEH………………………….: ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) : ) Congratulations sweetheart on your beautiful victory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Great speedy match and the fact that you kept going, keeping your brilliant focus, keeping your aggressive RETURNS…..and keeping your speedy movement……VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Love you and enjoy everything and have a fantastic day tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) It will be a great day for more Tennis and a great match for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 : ) 😉 🙂 Enjoy everything & Cerebrate with THE TEAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) lots of love & happiness sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
congratulations nadal with reaching final. That call was not your fault you didnt ask the umpire to check. Goffin should have ask the line judge to overrule the umpire.
You played well. You dont have to apologize to the french crowd let hem go to hell. The most important thing for you right know is winning your 10 title at monte carlo. You need to be more positive arrogant. Playing tennis is all about winning titles and not to be liked or being popular
However This year you played your worst matches in the finals. Hopefully you play your best tennis tomorrow because you are going to need it. Ramos vinolas plays the tournament of his life by beating cilic and murray. Results of the past dont count tomorrow
For all the others let me remind you about sam querry at acapulco who also played the tournament of his life and beat rafa in the final. So anyone who expects a easy win tomorrow is wrong. Nadal needs to play his best tennis tomorrow in order to beat ramos vinolas and not underestimating him otherwise ramos vinolas will suprise him the same way querrey suprised him at acapulco
I believe this was Rafa’s match anyway, regardless of bad calls. It might have taken a little longer, but that’s all. I also believe that there are always going to be elements of ‘luck’ – call it what you will – that can affect the score, be it the net cord, a rain break, an unruly crowd, or a bad call. What sets the really top players apart is that they don’t let any of this disrupt them. Goffin – whom I like, by the way – has a way to go on this front yet.
Well said Sarah
Agree Sarah 😊👍🏻
So true sarah so true
Very hard to celebrate, though of course I’m happy Rafa won.
Funereal atmosphere for rest of match after terrible call.\
We were all robbed of a great match. Not saying Goff would have won the match, but I knew he would have won the set, or at least would have continued to be highly competitive.
I think that ump needs to be reprimanded in some way, and i think this demonstrates all too vividly, why they need hawkeye on clay. I poreviously would have argued against it, but this changed my mind.
The whole thing would have been resolved fairly and correctly with hawkeye.
rafalite,
that call is not rafa fault goffin should have asked the line judge to overrule the umpire. He doesnt have to apologize to the crowd. He needs to tell them to go to hell. All that rafa needs to care about is winning tomorrow. He needs to do that by playing his best tennis. He played his worst matches in finals this year.
And if you remember sam querry at acapulco who also had a good week like ramos vinolas beat rafa in the final.
so dont underestimate ramos vinolas. rafa needs to play really well tomorrow to win the title
Of course it’s not Rafa’s fault. Where did say that, or anyone?
Weren’t you the one calling for Rafa to lose AZ?
And I know Ramos is good, but Goffin was way better than Ramos.
I agree rafalite – the whole thing was truly awful
Did you get to see the whole match?
Well if not, you only missed a really morbid finish. Even Rafa hardly looked happy. In fact, he did not.
Hopefully tomorrow it will be only tennis.