tennis

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The 65th edition of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell -commonly called the Conde de Godó tournament- has begun this weekend and runs through until the 30th April. The tournament goes back a long way as it was held for the first time in 1953. The competition is organized by the Barcelona Royal Tennis Club (RCTB) and has a big impact on the city of Barcelona and the European clay court circuit given the presence each year of club member Rafael Nadal. In this 2017 edition, the Godó can count on the presence of world number one Andy Murray and Henri Kontinen, the leading players on the ATP single and doubles rankings respectively.

The Japanese tennis player wins his first Godó Trophy in the 62^nd edition of the tournament. Kei Nishikori, ranked 17^th in the world, clinched his first clay court title after beating Columbian sensation Santiago Giraldo in straight sets and ascending five spots on the ATP rankings at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. After just an hour and thirteen minutes of play the fourth seed defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-2, becoming the first Japanese player to win the title. The Asian no. 1 becomes the first non-Spanish tennis player to lift the trophy in twelve years. A surprising turn of events saw several high profile players exit early in both the Men’s Singles and Doubles Championship. The Men’s Doubles surprised the crowd as Dutchman Jesse Huta Galung and French player Stéphane Robert paired up on Friday amazingly clinched their first title.

This week the ATP World Tour 500 series is in Barcelona for the 62^nd  edition of the Conde de Godó Trophy, officially named Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell 2014. Rafael Nadal is the defending champion looking to retain his title, but the world no. 1 faces tough competition as the tournament features a strong lineup of some of the best clay court specialists in the world including fellow compatriot and four time finalist David Ferrer, one of the strongest contenders for the title. The lineup also includes former local resident Fabio Fognini, ranked 13^th in the world and also a member of Real Club de Tennis Barcelona.

Nadal has won the 61st Conde de Godó Trophy in front of his home crowd in the Reial Club de Tennis Barcelona for the eighth time. Despite a poor start, the Mallorcan beat Nicolás Almagro in two sets: 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 32 minutes. The tournament was conditioned by the rain during the whole week and the final itself was almost suspended. Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares won in the doubles final against Robert Lindstedt and Daniel Nestor. It’s the eighth time that Nadal has won the Conde de Godó Trophy, an ATP World Series 500 tournament.

The Barcelona tennis tournament known as the Conde de Godó Trophy is an ATP World Tour 500 event and one of the most important on the clay court circuit. From April 20th to the 28th the top 10 players Nadal, Ferrer and Berdych will meet in the Catalan capital. Nicolás Almagro, Juan Mónaco or rising stars like Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori are also on the list. Marcel Granollers and Marc López will compete in the doubles tournament on the clay of the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona.