TENNIS – Kei Nishikori won the fifth title of his career and the first on clay at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, a ATP 250 Tournament, with a 6-2 6-2 win over Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo in a match between two players from the Brandenton Academy of Nick Bollettieri. Diego Sampaolo
Nishikori, who is coached by Michael Chang and Dante Bottini, won the second tournament of the year after Memphis where he beat Ivo Karlovic in the US Indoor Tournament. He achieved his previous ATP 500 wins in Tokyo in 2012 and in Memphis in 2013. He lost his previous final on clay against Ryan Sweeting in 2011.
Giraldo, the first Colombian player to reach the Barcelona final, got off to a good start storming to a 2-0 lead with an early break in the first set but from then Nishikori took control of the match by breaking back when Giraldo made a double fault
Nishikori broke Giraldo in three of his four service games to clinch the first set in 36 minutes. Nishikori got a early break in the first game of the second set to build up a 6-2 2-0 lead by winning eight consecutive points before cruising to 6-2 in the second set. Nishikori deserved to win the Tournament in which he dropped only one set in the whole week,
Nishikori has become the first non-Spanish player to win in Barcelona since Argentine’s Gaston Gaudio won in 2002. Spain dominated the following editions with Carlos Moya in 2003, Tommy Robredo in 2004, Rafa Nadal from 2005 to 2009 and 2011 and 2013 and Fernando Verdasco in 2010. The match between Nishikori and Giraldo has been the first non-Spanish final since 1996.
Nishikori will move up to World Number 12 in the ATP Ranking and to Number 7 in the Race to London. With this form the Japanese player could be a possible title contender for the next Master 1000 Tournaments in Madrid and Rome and at the Roland Garros next month.
“This title and my run in Miami have helped my confidence, especially this week on clay. There are three bi tournaments in Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. I hope to do well increase my ranking. My next goal is to get to the top-10”, said Nishikori.
