BARCELONA, April 26, 2018

Third round action on Thursday at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell was headlined by the top five seeds of World No. 1 and 10-time champion Rafael Nadal, No. 2 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 3 Dominic Thiem, No. 4 David Goffin and No. 5 Pablo Carreno Busta.

Nadal defeated fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-López 6-1, 6-3. The World No. 1 lost his serve only once and broke his opponent five times to advance in one hour and 19 minutes.

40 straight sets on clay.@RafaelNadal unstoppable against Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-3.#bcnopenbs pic.twitter.com/1Oj06OLUU7

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 26. April 2018

“I think I’ ve played again on a high level. I think I’ ve been better than yesterday. I think at 4-1 in the first set I lost a little bit the intensity on the court. I felt good since the beginning of the match. I felt more comfortable today,” Nadal was pleased with his performance.

The impressive week for Martin Klizan continues, as he beat No. 12 seed Feliciano López 6-1, 6-4. The 28-year-old Slovakian qualifier capitalized on four of his five break point chances to advance in one hour and 17 minutes. Klizan will be Nadal’s next opponent.

“I was tired today, I have already played five matches, two matches in the qualifying and three tough matches in the main draw. Especially the first match lasting three hours was tough. I only had one day rest. So today I was really tired, I’m lucky it wasn’t a long match, so I have some time to  prepare for tomorrow,” Kllizan told.

Dimitrov and Carreno Busta save match points

Grigor Dimitrov had to fight hard, saving two match points against Malek Jaziri of Tunisia. The World No. 5 won one point more than his opponent, clinching the tie-break in the third set 10-8 to secure a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 victory in two hours and 49 minutes.

Two match points saved.
Four match points needed.@grigordimitrov battles through to the quarters past Jaziri 7-5 3-6 7-6(8).#bcnopenbs pic.twitter.com/epTSAQQXmd

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 26. April 2018

Next up for Dimitrov will be Pablo Carreno Busta, who battled past Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 4-6, 7-6. The 26-year-old Barcelona resident, saved three match points and converted six of his 11 break point opportunities to prevail in the tie-break of the final set 8-6. The encounter lasted two hours and 38 minutes.

Dominic Thiem defeated Slovakian lucky loser Jozef Kovalik 7-6, 6-2. The World No. 7 from Austria finished the encounter after one hour and 43 minutes to meet #NextGenATP star Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the quarterfinals.

Goffin rallied past Karen Khachanov of Russia 2-6, 7-6, 6-0. The 27-year-old from Belgium won 54 per cent of the total points played to prevail after just under two hours of play. Next up for Goffin will Roberto Bautista-Agut.

Comeback complete! @David__Goffin steals the victory with a 2-6 7-6(2) 6-0 win over Khachanov.

Meets Bautista-Agut next.#bcnopenbs pic.twitter.com/gC7oEidpXU

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 26. April 2018