Dopo aver conquistato per la decima volta il torneo di Monte Carlo, una prima nell'era open, Nadal (ATP 5) potrebbe fare lo stesso anche a Barcellona, torneo che l'iberico ha conquistato già nove volte in carriera. Rafa ha infatti battuto in semifinale l'argentino Zeballos (84) in due set, con il risultato di 6-3 6-4.
Per riuscirci dovrà però superare anche l'ostacolo Thiem (9), che nei tre scontri diretti sulla terra rossa è già riuscito a battere una volta lo spagnolo, l'anno scorso a Buenos Aires. Nell'altra semifinale, il giovane austriaco è infatti riuscito a estromettere il numero uno al mondo Murray, dopo una battaglia durata oltre due ore e terminata 6-2 3-6 6-4.
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