The 2017 final between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem can be replayed after Saturday’s draw for the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Barcelona.
Rafael Nadal still has a final task ahead of him in Monte Carlo, and there are already fresh challenges in Barcelona: there, too, the Spaniard will be the defending champion. And could have it right back with Kei Nishikori. And, according to the seed list, in the quarter-finals with Novak Djokovic.
By the way, Nadal could start with Andreas Haider-Maurer: The Austrian uses his Protected Ranking to play Roberto Carballes Baena in round one.
Dominic Thiem, the Austrian number one, enjoys a walk-through at the beginning like all seeded players. The 2017 finalist could then face Joao Sousa or Jaime Munar before Fernando Verdasco. Thiem has no good memories of him: Most recently in Rio de Janeiro, the left-handed player had the upper hand, as in the two previous matches.
From a German perspective, there are three men in the main field in Barcelona: Philipp Kohlschreiber will have to deal with Gilles Simon and could then, as in Monte Carlo, meet Grigor Dimitrov. Peter Gojowczyk plays against the Argentinian Guido Pella; Mischa Zverev has been drawn by his compatriot Leonardo mayer.
Here the single tableau in Barcelona