Nadal ends Ferrer run at Barcelona Open

Rafael Nadal looked closer to his claycourt best again as he beat David Ferrer 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open.

The 11-time Barcelona champion saved four of five break points and broke four times on Thursday in what could have been his last meeting with Ferrer, who is retiring after the Madrid Open next month.

It was a sign of improvement for Nadal, who lost in the semifinals in Monte Carlo last week and then needed three sets to get past Leonard Mayer in his opening match in Barcelona.

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“This match was important for me,” Nadal said. “Yesterday I had a tough match. I took a step forward and was able to play with more energy.”

The top-seeded Nadal will next face 51st-ranked Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, who upset fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 3-6 6-2.

Nadal was up 5-3 in the first set before play was stopped for a rain delay. He continued to dictate the match when play resumed, serving out the set and breaking Ferrer’s next service game.

End of an era… ????????????@RafaelNadal brings David Ferrer's career at the Barcelona Open to a close with a 6-3 6-3 victory. #bcnopenbs pic.twitter.com/off9pyyirL

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 25, 2019

Ferrer saved three match points before finally sending a forehand into the net to give Nadal the win.

The 37-year-old Ferrer was making his last appearance at the Barcelona Open and could not hold back the tears when he received an ovation from the audience. He placed his pink headband on the court as a mark that he had played his last match here.

“I am happy to be able to finish this tournament on the centre court, playing against Nadal. I gave it my all,” Ferrer said.

Also, third seed Dominic Thiem broke Jaume Munar five times to earn a 7-5 6-1 victory.

Fourth seed Kei Nishikori, who won the tournament in 2014 and 2015, brushed off Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1 6-3.

Grigor Dimitrov was beaten 2-6 6-4 7-6(2) by Nicolas Jarry, who will meet Daniil Medvedev after the Russian beat American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-2.