Rafael Nadal beats Nishikori in 3 units at Barcelona Open

Rafael Nadal beat Kei Nishikori 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open.
The 11-time event champion appeared able to roll to a fast victory after dominating the primary set, however Nishikori responded with some fantastic web play to degree it at 1-1.
Nadal broke Nishikori twice within the decisive set, changing his second match level by driving a forehand winner down the road.
The top-seeded Nadal remains to be looking for his finest tennis after being upset within the Monte Carlo quarterfinals by Andrey Rublev. He wanted three units to beat 111th-ranked Ilya Ivashka of Belarus in his first match in Barcelona on Wednesday.
“I didn’t play a lot last year so I know that I will struggle,” Nadal stated. “I have been improving and I’m on the right path. I know the process. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Nadal will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie subsequent. Norrie superior after David Goffin retired within the second set of their match as a result of damage.
Nishikori gained the outside clay-court event in 2014 and 2015 when Nadal was battling accidents.
Second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-3, whereas Rublev acquired previous Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4.
The event was not held final 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.