World number one Rafael Nadal eased past Slovak Martin Klizan to reach the Barcelona Open semifinals.
The defending champion came through 6-0, 7-5 to extend his Open era record to 42 consecutive sets won on clay. It is his 17 matches in a row on clay.
Klizan had three set points to take the match to a decider but Rafa, who had been 3-5 down in the second set, battled back to take victory on a third match point.
Our champ, who has won the title 10 times, now has 399 wins on clay and will face either David Goffin or Roberto Bautista Agut in the last four.
After the match, Rafa said:
I started well in the first set, then very bad in the beginning of the second set.
The first game was horrible. I had options to return the break, but Klizan played well and it was difficult to move him on the track. I was uncomfortable but luckily I was able to do it the break back.
It was important not to fail, in the end it has fallen on my side, and I am happy.
Well done Rafa and all the best for your next game against David Goffin.
Love and prayers,
AlaineXX
Great job Rafa way to go
Rafa did not express much interest in the SS record and neither do I. I was happier that Rafa did not have to play a third set. Rafa does have a second set let down from time to time. He had one yesterday too which gave GGL some brief hope. I don’t know if Rafa just lets his concentration lapse a little. It certainly made the second set more exciting for the fans. For me, I can do without the excitement. This might help Rafa in Madrid, however, to get challenged a bit.
Rafa explained his second-set performance to El Pais. “I had to go to the bathroom and lost timing. At 0-40 I lost serve. And then, although I had chances, I did not manage to get back until 5-4. To me it was complicated but I needed to play a set at this level because I knew I was capable of overcoming it [my deficit].”
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
42 sets and counting! Rafa had to dig deep in the second set to keep his winning streak going. Amazing. Well done!
WI…………………………….WI……………………………………WI…………………………………..SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) ; ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) 🙂 : ) CONGRATULATIONS SWEETHEART ON YOUR BRILLIANT, POWERFUL VICTORY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU ARE SUCH BRILLIANT CHAMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOUR ON THE RUN FEISTY MAGICAL POINTS …….YESTERDAY AND TODAY WERE SO EXCITING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) 🙂 : ) CI…………………………..CI………………………….CI……………………….. THERE WAS SO MUCH BEAUTY & CLASS IN YOUR EXCITING MATCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) YOUR STRONG , SOLID , EFFECTIVE SERVE IS SO SPECIAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ): ) ; ) : ) : ) : ) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) BEAUTIFUL ACES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) SHARP & TIMELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) wi……..wi……..wi……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU HAVE SUCH GENIUS COURT COMMAND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) EVERY POINT IS A TREAT AND SO IS YOUR BRILLIANT DETERMINATION & DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) A GENIUS PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) I LOVE YOUR ENERGY & YOUR YOUR BRILLIANT FOCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OF COURSE AMAZING SPEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) & BEST, CUTEST EVER PASSIONATE EXPRESSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) 😉 : ) SO HANDSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) : ) : ) MUCHAS GRACIAS SENIOR CHAMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL EVENING SWEETHEART & LOTS OF FUN CELEBRATING WITH YOUR LOVED ONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) A LOT TO PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT IS ALWAYS VERY NICE TO SEE CAMERA CLOSE UP OF YOUR PRECIOUS FAMILY & COACH ROIG & RAFAEL THE PHYSIO AS THEY ALL WATCHING YOU STRIDE & GLIDE & PLAY YOUR MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) YOU BRING SUCH SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE TO THE MATCH DEAR RAFA & GREAT FUN FOR THE CROWD WHEREVER YOU PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE A LOVELY TIME TONIGHT & A BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) IT WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ENJOY EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) SENDING LOTS OF LOVE & HAPPINESS SWEETHEART & VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KEEP SMILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
VAMOS Rafaluna!
Amazing first set. In the second Rafa looked a little bit tired at the beginning but it was a great fight than. Take rest and Good luck for tomorrow. Vamos Rafa <3
Rafa eased through the first set but the second set provided a real challenge .Credir to Klizan who played some great tennis but our champion stayed calm and focused and came back to win .
Glad he won in two sets as he does not need long court time .
Well done Rafa and best of luck to morrow .
Rafa eased through the first set but the second set provided a real challenge .Credir to Klizan who played some great tennis but our champion stayed calm and focused and came back to win .
Glad he won in two sets as he does not need long court time .
Well done Rafa and best of luck to morrow .
It was nerve-wrecking to watch the second set. But Rafa never gave up, and passed the toughest test so far this clay-season. I’m so happy and so in awe of our hero! Congratulations!!
Another one bites the dust but in style.
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Amazing power and confidence😱Congratulations-we are in awe💪👍👊👏👑😍
Phew!!! And the streak continues 💪💪💪