Nadal to Face 63rd-Ranked Mayer in Barcelona Open
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Defending champion Rafael Nadal will face Leonardo Mayer in his first match at the Barcelona Open.
Mayer defeated Marius Copil 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-5 in the first round on Monday. The 63rd-ranked Argentine saved all five break points he faced in a match lasting more than two and a half hours.
Second-ranked Nadal, an 11-time winner in Barcelona, opens play at the clay-court tournament on Wednesday after a first-round bye. He is coming off a loss to Fabio Fognini in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
"My personal opinion is that I played one of the worst matches on clay," Nadal said in Barcelona. "It's a reality. There is no need to hide it. What has happened has happened."
******Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball toItaly's Fabio Fognini during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, April, 20, 2019.
Mayer defeated Marius Copil 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-5 in the first round on Monday. The 63rd-ranked Argentine saved all five break points he faced in a match lasting more than two and a half hours.
Second-ranked Nadal, an 11-time winner in Barcelona, opens play at the clay-court tournament on Wednesday after a first-round bye. He is coming off a loss to Fabio Fognini in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
"My personal opinion is that I played one of the worst matches on clay," Nadal said in Barcelona. "It's a reality. There is no need to hide it. What has happened has happened."
******Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball toItaly's Fabio Fognini during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, April, 20, 2019.