Nadal gets tested on way to QF in Rio

Nadal gets tested on way to QF in Rio
By Jawad Bisharat

Number 1 seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated countryman Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday to advance to the quarter finals at the Rio Open.

Carreno Busta drew first blood breaking Nadal to take the lead in the first set. Nadal however broke back, to even the set.  Busta’s saved 3 set points on his serve, but the 23 year old was unable to hold on to the set losing in 73 minutes.

In the second set, Nadal was pushed saving 2 break points. Busta on the other hand could not hold serve and Nadal went on to win the match in over 2 hours.

“I think he played well; he played aggressive,” said Nadal. “I’m happy the way that I played."

Nadal will next face sixth seed Pablo Cuevas, who is coming off a win on Sunday at the Brasil Open 2015 defeating Vanni. Cuevas beat journyman Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2 in 69 minutes to secure a quarter final match against the best clay court player of all time. 

"Montanes is a great player on this surface; the famous 'Old Fox'," said Cuevas "He definitely was a difficult opponent. I am confident. I was able to play the same as I’ve been doing for the last days, and I was able to prevail in the match. I am happy."

"If my rival is Nadal, it is going to be the first time I face him," he said. "I am in a good moment. I will try to enjoy the match and continue to play the same as I been doing and I wish I can continue with the streak."

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Nadal Wins Rio Opener

RIO OPEN PRESENTED BY CLARO 2015

NADAL WINS RIO OPENER; GOLDEN SWING KING FERRER ADVANCES

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by ATP Staff

  | 

17.02.2015

© Rio Open/AGIFDavid Ferrer looked comfortable on the clay Tuesday night in Rio.

World No. 3 Rafael Nadal launched his clay-court season with a 6-4, 6-1 win overThomaz Bellucci on Tuesday night at the Rio Open presented by Claro. 

Nadal struck first with a break at 2-all, but Bellucci returned the favour to level the match at 4-all. Nadal would break again one game later, consolidating to claim the first set 6-4.

A run of six straight games for the top seed saw him eventually go up 4-0 in the second set, before the Brazilian was able to hold serve. Serving down 1-5, Bellucci saved two match points before Nadal was able to clinch the victory in 91 minutes.

The Spaniard benefited from his opponent’s 31 unforced errors and struck 13 winners of his own as he advanced to the second round, where he will face compatriotPablo Carreno Busta. 

The 23-year-old Spaniard needed two hours and 27 minutes to win his opening match 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0 over Carlos Berlocq. 

Earlier, David Ferrer kicked off the evening's Spanish showcase with a 6-4, 6-2 win over countryman and qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Ferrer extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head record over the World No. 99 to 3-0 after the 89-minute win. The 32-year-old World No. 9 will meet Thiemo De Bakker in the second round.  

Another Spanish native, Nicolas Almagro, was not so lucky in his Rio opener, falling to No. 6 seed Pablo Cuevas 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes. 

With six titles each, Ferrer and Almagro have tallied the most career championships on Latin America’s Golden Swing, which includes tournaments in Argentina, Brazil (2) and Ecuador during the month of February.