Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning over Albert Ramos during the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament in Barcelona yesterday. Nadal won 7-6, 6-4. (AFP)
Agencies/Barcelona
Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal buried memories of his loss last week to David Ferrer with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 win over fellow Spanish left-hander Albert Ramos into the third round of the Barcelona Open.
The top seed now stands 41-1 at his Catalan home event.
Four-time finalist Ferrer, who beat Nadal in a Monte Carlo quarter-final upset last Friday, was ushered out by Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-4, 6-2, the second exit in as many years at this stage of the competition.
“After losing in the Monte Carlo I wanted to raise my game here,” Nadal said. “It just took a while.”
Eight-time winner Nadal was made to work against the stubborn Ramos, who broke back in the 11th game to force the first-set tiebreaker. Nadal eventually came out on the winning end of a long rally of baseline shots for a 4-2 lead as he went on to take the set. Nadal was steadier after that but still could not shake Ramos. He sealed it after a quick talk with the tournament doctor by breaking his fellow left-hander to win the match.
“I had to accept that I was going to be made to work today, that I was not playing at my best level,” Nadal said. “But I got through it.”
Nadal will face Ivan Dodig next after the Croatian dismissed Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-1, 6-4.
Ferrer, meanwhile, will not be facing Nadal in the final for a fifth time after the 55th-ranked Gabashvili dominated Ferrer on his favored clay to reach the last 16.
Gabashvili kept Ferrer running to the corners, and the fifth-ranked Spaniard was surprisingly unable to keep up with shots he normally returns, looking fatigued at times.
Ferrer netted to give his opponent a triple set-point opportunity to close out the first frame, which Gabashvili did by smashing a crosscourt forehand Ferrer couldn’t handle. Gabashvili maintained his play from the start of the second set to race to 3-0 when Ferrer skied his return high and into the crowd. Ferrer, who lost at this same stage last season to Dmitry Tursunov, slapped a crosscourt forehand long for Gabashvili to clinch it.
“Three weeks ago I lost to Ferrer in Miami but I dominated that first set. Today, I wanted to maintain my energy and keep it going, which I did for (90) minutes, but any more and it might have been tougher to win,” Gabashvili said after winning for the first time on the third try against Ferrer.
Ferrer wasn’t the only significant player to exit early as third-seeded Fabio Fognini retired to injury while losing 6-0, 4-0 to Santiago Giraldo of Colombia. Eighth-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine was also ousted by Spanish player Albert Montanes 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Other second-round winners included sixth-seeded Nicolas Almagro and fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes.
Home-town honour reduces Murray to tears
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray fought to hold back tears yesterday after being awarded the ceremonial freedom of his Scottish home town, Sterling. “It feels good to be home,” said Murray, his voice cracking with emotion, during a ceremony at his former school, Dunblane High. The 26-year-old was seen to pause and wipe his eyes several times during his speech, as a crowd including local officials, his parents, and girlfriend Kim Sears looked on. “I’m going to keep this very short because there’s a good chance I’ll get emotional,” he said. “I’d like to thank the (local) council for voting me in. I was expecting a few no’s. I was thinking, ‘There’s got to be one of you who doesn’t like me.’ “I’d like to thank all my family and friends and girlfriend for coming to support me.” After another break to compose himself, he added: “I think everyone knows I’m extremely proud of where I come from. “To get this honour means a lot to me so thanks to everyone for coming along, and I apologise for this behaviour,” he added with a smile. Murray left Scotland and moved to Spain as a teenager, and now resides in London. At a later press conference in the school hall, renamed Murray Hall, he explained why he had felt so emotional. “I don’t get the chance to come back that often and I don’t get the chance to see my family as much as I would like, and I’m very proud of where I come from,” he said. Previously renowned for his gruff demeanour, Murray captured British hearts after breaking down in tears live on television following his defeat by Roger Federer in the 2012 Wimbledon men’s final. He exacted revenge on the Swiss in the final of the men’s Olympic tournament on the same court weeks later and then returned to win Wimbledon last year, becoming the first British man to do so for 77 years.
