Rediscovering his formidable form, Nadal tops Fognini in Barcelona QFs

BARCELONA—Last year, during Rafael Nadal’s worst season in over a decade, he lost to Fabio Fognini three times, including a straight-sets defeat at the Barcelona Open. But after winning a rematch with the Italian on Friday, 6-2, 7-6 (1), Nadal insisted that his impressive form had nothing to do with that difficult stretch.

“For me I never say revenge. I don’t believe in revenge because I don’t believe in this kind of thing,” Nadal said. “I try my best every day. I believe that last year was a different year than this year, different kind of match, so I never thought about the match last year.”

Nadal didn’t resemble the weakened player we saw last season on this day. He exuded confidence in his shotmaking and disposition, and was the far steadier competitor. Standing a few feet farther back from the baseline than Fognini, he raced to a 3-0 lead. Fognini, who on Thursday said he would need a miracle to beat an in-form Nadal, looked prophetic as he went for the lines to win points. Meanwhile, Nadal was in his old comfort zone, looping deep forehands and carving backhand angles.

The world No. 31’s go-for-broke style can work, of course—just watch the replay of his match with Nadal at last year’s U.S. Open. And today, his aggressive approach did earn him one break back to reach 1-4. At times Fognini was literally shooting from the hip, going for daring winners down the lines, but often following it with multiple errors.

Weathering the storm, Nadal breezed through the first set. His confident trot was in full force, and it looked like even any memory of Fognini having ever toppled him was long forgotten.

“He can hit a lot of winners,” Nadal said. “But…he takes lot of risk too. If I’m able to hit the ball well and to play lot of points in a row the right way, he will hit winners but at the same time he will have mistakes.”

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In the second set, Nadal grabbed an early break for a 2-0 lead. To his credit, the often volatile Fognini didn’t lose his cool. Instead, he got he broke right back thanks to a few errors from Nadal’s racquet. It’s moments like these we remember that Nadal’s form has slipped since his time at No. 1. He’s at No. 5 now, and while the thought of him outside the Top 3 once seemed outrageous, it’s become the norm.

One constant for Nadal has been his massive fan base, particularly in Barcelona. They come in droves to eagerly watch their hero wreak havoc on his opponents, and linger long after he’s done to catch a glimpse of him off the court. In Spain, he’s no normal celebrity; he’s a god amongst men.

“Great feelings, great crowd, I enjoy it a lot,” Nadal said. “The atmosphere was unbelievable on the court toady. I feel the support of the crowd and its something very special for me playing at home.”

Nadal needed that support in the second set. A lengthy Nadal service game at 2-2 went Fognini’s way, and suddenly, the momentum was in the Italian’s hands. Fognini held until 5-4, when a resilient defensive effort from Nadal elicited a few untimely errors. Nadal took the next two games, and then the next three points, to set up triple match point.

Then the Fognini we’ve come to know reappeared. He saved the first match point with a deft drop shot, then caught the baseline with a huge groundstroke rip to save the second. On the third, he balsted a forehand inside-out winner. Those three points efficiently summed up Fognini’s entire game plan against Nadal.

But it was unsustainable. After three more effective Fognini drop shots helped send the set into a tiebreaker, his flashy game fizzled out completely. He was down 5-0 in what felt like seconds, and Nadal ran away with the tiebreaker, 7-1. (Fognini’s sole point in the breaker was a dazzling lob winner.)

“I have to have to balance between not missing, but at the same time not giving him the chance to push me back or hit to many winners from not too difficult positions,” Nadal said.

Nadal’s play this week, combined his triumph at last week’s Monte Carlo Masters, is evidence that he’s not the player he was last year; he more closely resembles the player that has won Monte Carlo and Barcelona titles back-to-back on seven occasions (including five straight years). If he’s to make it eight, he’ll first have to get by Philipp Kohlschreiber in tomorrow’s semifinals.