By Alberto Amalfi | Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Top-seeded Kei Nishikori launched defense of his Barcelona title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Teymuraz Gabashvili.
Photo credit: Barcelona Open BancSabadell
It was a day of milestones and mis-steps in Barcelona.
Top seed Kei Nishikori looked sharp launching his title defense with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Teymuraz Gabashvili.
More: Road to Roland Garros Breakdown
The world No. 5 broke in Gabashvili's opening service game in racing out to a 4-1 lead. Striking assertively on serve, Nishikori won 18 of 20 points played on his second serve in wrapping up a 69-minute victory.
The 2014 U.S. Open finalist raised his record to 22-5 on the season. Nishikori will face either 15th-seeded Santiago Giraldo, in a rematch of the 2014 final, or Joao Sousa next.
No. 9 seed Tommy Robredo registered his 250th career clay-court victory with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Mikhail Kukushkin. Robredo will play either sixth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or compatriot Marcel Granollers for a quarterfinal spot.
Nicolas Almagro joined fellow Spaniard Robredo in scoring his 250th career clay-court win. Almagro held a 3-0 lead over Paolo Lorenzi when the Italian retired. Almagro will play second-seeded Rafael Nadal on Wednesday.
Argentina's Juan Monaco posted his 220th career clay-court victory with a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Alejandro Gonzalez. Monaco meets No. 14 seed Martin Klizan next.
Fernando Verdasco fell victim to nerves and 17-year-old former French Open junior champion Andrey Rublev. Verdasco served for the first set, but could not close and and aggressive Rublev rolled through the tie break.
The 329th-ranked Russian qualifier scored his biggest ATP win with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory overcoming cramps in the final game and 2010 champion Verdasco. The 2014 junior world No. 1 will play No. 13 seed Fabio Fognini next.
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