BARCELONA - ATP 500 - Apr. 19-27, 2014.

[Murat B.]

Back to deuce. 41 match winning streak on the line. Break point Rafa again...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Vamos Almagro, DOn't choke today.

 

[Kieran]

Serve-drive volley. Wrong thread, surely!

 

[shawnbm]

If it is this tight and Nico has lost a match point, then my confidence is high Nadal wins. Almagro had one shot.

 

[Murat B.]

Big onions from Niko to take that ball in the air at break point.

Second match point for Niko.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Looks like Almagro got inspired by Ferrer's win.

Hope he holds it together.

 

[shawnbm]

Well, maybe I spoke too soon and was mistaken. I just don't have much faith in Almagro when it is tight--and this is sounding mighty tight at the moment.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

mp 2

 

[GameSetAndMath]

he did it

 

[Kieran]

Well I seen it all now! In fairness to Almagro, he played a great final set. Rafa in crisis? Too soon to panic!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Vamos Almagro. I promise, I will never call you a choker again.

 

[shawnbm]

Well, has Nicolas finally come through in the clutch against the Spanish Bull?

 

[Murat B.]

Niko does it!...His first top 3 win.
Paradigm shift or what...

We all thought it was going to be hard for Rafa to defend all the points from last year, but I don't think anybody thought they were going to be these clay points.

 

[Moose]

Nico! Well done.

Now, vamos Kohli!

 

[Riotbeard]

Wow... Go Nico?!

 

[El Dude]

Wow. Just caught the last few points. All I can wonder is: What's up with Rafa?

 

[shawnbm]

Holy Moly! Almagro actually beat Nadal, in a tight match, on clay????????

I must eat my hat, as I candidly had no faith. First Ferrer and now Almagro--these other Spaniards getting tired of Nadal. Felicidades Nicolas--bien echo--y con fuerza. Ole.

 

[golds girl]

Well Nico played a very good third set and it seems Rafa got a little tight and lost some confidence.
All the best to Nico's fans.

 

[Murat B.]

Rafa was not his usual self in the third but once again, power changes everything. If you can hit hard consistently, and they don't even have to be outright winners, you have a chance...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The funny thing is the #3 Spaniard has not yet ever beaten even the
#2 Spaniard. Today, he held it together to take out the #1 Spaniard.