ATP: Nadal on course in Barcelona Djokovic, Thiem on the lower branch

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