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
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Poor Rafa, not his fault or decision but the crowd are now against him
No, really not fair of the booing crowd 😒 Don’t like it at all. Totally disrespectful – poor Rafa ❤️ Not his fault.
Goffin is furious 😤
C’mon Rafa! VAMOOS!! 🎾💪🏼❤️🍀
Crikey not liking this crowd
Oh dear poor goffin – rafa’s ball was clearly out. Understand why he is so upset. Replay of point and rafa gets it. Get those boos
So far Goff is better.
Takes the ball earlier.
That is the story of why Rafa loses to certain players.
He gets to everything almost doesn’t miss.
Rafa has to take it up a notch, and get out of his own comfort zones.
Whoops – early days though – rafa please break back very soon!
Already broken by Goff.
This is going to be very very tough.
Goff gets to everything, and he almost doesn’t miss.
Hi rafalite – although I really like David goffin – clearly I don’t want him to win today. However I’m counting on him peaking too soon and then rafa will take it. I’m not too concerned yet – found my peaceful place!
Hi Susie,
Hope you can watch it all.
I think this will be extremely tough for Rafa, so far Goff is better.
I like Goff too, but it’s still going to be v painful if Rafa loses.
Rafa, there is ONLY ONE of the top ten remaining in the MC Masters. That may be surprising. What is NOT surprising is that YOU are that ONLY ONE.👏👏😘😘😄😄😄🎾🎾👍🍀🍀👍👍👍👏👏👏🎾🎾🎾🎾😘😘😘😘🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕
You have practiced a lot with David; I hope you know his weaknesses and that you will capitalize on them. You should have some surprises for him tomorrow so you can clinch a spot in the finals.
Toni revealed that you lost a sponsor or two when they found out you were eating two pizzas at a sitting. Hopefully you have stopped that behavior. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 NO PIZZA tonight, please. Get ready for a bataille royale.
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY TENNIS
RAFA IS ROCKIN’ MONTE CARLO
CORRECTION: “surprises for him today” not tomorrow
The above was written yesterday.
Good luck Rafa , your 10th title is in your hands ✋. The Russian yaucht might be on the market , but the MC trophy is not up for grabs, it’s staying with its current and rightful owner. The only DNA and teethmarks on it this weekend are yours😂
Rafa GOOD LUCK. David may be a tough nut to crack but you should be able to do it. As I stated yesterday, can we see an all Spanish final?
BEST OF THREE, RAFA!!!
YOU ROCK
Hear, hear Margo 👍🏻 And hi! 😃
Praying for a Rafa win.👏👏👏👏🎾🎾🎾😬😬🎾👏🎾👏👏👏👏
RAFA ROCKS
Fabulous and how humble was RV when he won! Just love those Spaniards. Now cmon rafa if you can get this done in an hour and a half that’d be great as I have to leave at 4.30pmish! Lol – I know he won’t!
Susie , what are you doing on here, I thought you would be sunning yourself out on your yaucht , picking up Rafalite on the way so he/she could claim that seat
Yes I would have done but rafalite is still swimming so we cancelled
I’m a little nervous now. Desperately trying to find my peaceful place before the match.
Still 🏊 swimming , is he making his way to MC lol
Yes . Spanish Sunday ⛅ here we come. The Spanish doubles through , now Ramos- Vinolas . Rafa now make it a triple
Congrats Ramos-Vinolas 😊👏🏻
VAMOS RAFA CHAMP! – Now go get it 🤗😘❤️🍀
I’m just wondering if Pouille is taking a MTO for tactical reasons. We’ve seen that
before!!
Sorry 3rd set
Oh come on Ramos 3 games up in 2nd set and suddenly Pouille out of nowhere needs a medical timeout grrr
Great minds maria- I’ve just posted same thing
That’s a tough draw, not AZ but Nish and Murray. Well first things, first.
I’ve been trying to figure out if Rafa can get #4 for FO draw. If he wins MC then he is about 400 points behind Fed, meaning he needs to gain more than 400 bcz Fed is not playing till RG (not sure if Fed can drop points–did he plays any clay 1000s last year?) anyway after that Rafa is defending about 400 points in Madrd and Rome, made quarters and semis. So it seems he has to win MB and Barc and make finals or better Madrd and Rome to go into RG seeded 4th.
Has anyone done the exact math on this?
It might be that RFed doesn’t play the FO. He was quoted recently as saying he wasn’t sure if he would play or not.
Yes the next Spaniard today Vamos- vinolas has just taken the first set against Pouille , and is well on the way to booking his place in the final, against Rafa of course
I am surprised RNF did not mention the special honor Rafa will receive there. They voted to name the main court after him. There will be a naming ceremony next week. While I think it is well deserved, of course, it also makes me aware that Rafa’s playing days are closer to ending too. That makes me sad.
Oh I’m so happy for Rafa , what an honour ( for Barcelona ). It’s about time the FO followed suit
By time you play at Barcelona you will have won your 10th title at MC and this will be your next one to add to your outstanding list. Good draw but after the last couple of tournaments , i think it shows having top seeds in your half of the draw counts for nothing.