BARCELONA, April 24, 2018

There were six first round and five second round matches on Tuesday’s schedule at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell with three seeds leading the way on Pista Rafa Nadal. No. 4 seed David Goffin, No. 8 Roberto Bautista Agut and No. 12 Feliciano López were in second round action.

Goffin rallied past local favourite Marcel Granollers 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. The 27-year-old from Belgium had been trailing 1-5 in the second set before he took charge in the final set. Goffin saves match point and broke his opponent four times to prevail after two hours and 23 minutes. He will next take on either Leonardo Mayer or Karen Khachanov.

“Against Marcel it was a tough match. I’ m here to play some matches, I’ m back from an injury so I need some matches. Like last week I missed so many opportunities, I was 5-1 against Dimitrov, I didn’ t manage to close the match and I think it was a special match against Granollers today,” Goffin told.

“I’ m feeling great physically, I worked a lot the last 3 week, I’ m feeling fit. Now I just need to get some confidence and get some wins. And I also need get some matches on my legs and that is the case for the moment. I just want to keep going and keep fighting and play a lot of matches before the French Open.”

Bautista-Agut also came from a set down to overcome Ivo Karlovic. The World No. 15 from Spain withstood 15 aces from the big-serving Croat, breaking his opponent three times to secure victory in one hour and 57 minutes. Baustista-Agut will face either #NextGenATP star Hyeon Chung of Korea or US-American qualifier Bjorn Fratangelo in the third round.

Feliciano López also advanced into the stage of the final 16, winning 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia. The 36-year-old Spaniard struck 13 aces, winning 79 per cent of his first service points to finish the encounter in two hours and 18 minutes. Next up for López will be either No. 6 seed Novak Djokovic or Slovakian qualifier Martin Klizan.

Photo Gallery (by Brigitte Urban):