BARCELONA OPEN BANCSABADELL—BARCELONA, SPAIN
Top seed Rafael Nadal won his ninth career Barcelona Open title in Spain on Sunday, defeating No. 2 seed Kei Nishikori 6-4, 7-5. In a match that lasted two hours and five minutes, it was Nadal that won 60 percent of his first serve points, while hitting one ace and breaking serve on five occasions. Improving to 9-1 against Nishikori in lifetime meetings, Nadal backed up his victory in Monte Carlo last week and now stands at No. 2 in the Race to London. The Spaniard also took home his 49th career clay-court title and 500 ATP World Tour points. The Spaniard will next see action at the Madrid Masters in Spain.
Nishikori, who was the two-time defending champion at the event, was vying for his 12th title as a professional.
