Nadal on clay: 31 wins and still going strong - Hindustan Times
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Nadal on clay: 31 wins and still going strong

AFP | By, Barcelona
Apr 22, 2011 12:43 AM IST

Top seed Rafael Nadal extended his current clay court win streak to 31 matches, as the Spaniard overcame an early run of breaks to post a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Santiago Giraldo today at the ATP Barcelona Open.

Top seed Rafael Nadal extended his current clay court win streak to 31 matches as the Spaniard overcame an early run of breaks to post a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Santiago Giraldo on Thursday at the ATP Barcelona Open.

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Nadal is bidding for a sixth title at his “home” event in seven editions after missing 2010 due to treatment on a knee injury.

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He moved into the quarter-finals in less than 90 minutes, surviving a first set with five breaks of serve against a South American opponent.

But Nadal did not hang about after securing the opening set. He took a 3-0 lead in the second and quickly closed it out. The number one was last beaten on clay at Roland Garros in 2009 by Robin Soderling in the fourth round.

Nadal now stands an ATP-leading 26 wins and four losses this season. He is 27-1 in Barcelona.

He will on Friday face Gael Monfils, who beat French compatriot Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) in their third-round encounter.

But seventh seed Monfils, a laid-back character in almost all circumstances, was deliberately refusing to consider the distinct possibility of the task ahead.

“I won’t think about the match now,” said a reluctant Monfils, playing in only his second event since a wrist injury forced him out in February. “I will prepare it just like any other match.

“Of course if it’s Nadal, what can I say, I’ll worry about it later. It would be a tough job.” Fourth-seeded David Ferrer got a Spanish win as he defeated Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2.

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