Rafael Nadal has admitted that he is feeling happier with his game at the Barcelona Open but is still expecting a stern test against Fabio Fognini in the last eight.
The Spaniard made light work of compatriot Albert Montanes on Thursday afternoon to book his place in the quarter-finals of the competition on home soil.
Following his straight-sets win, in which he broke the wildcard's serve five times, Nadal looked towards a tricky meeting with Fognini - the same opponent who eliminated him from this tournament last year.
"Tomorrow will be a tough match against Fognini, he beat me three times last year and it was an up and down against him," he is quoted as saying by ESPN. "But I had a great forehand today and the conditions were much better than yesterday."
Nadal won his first title of the year at the Monte Carlo Masters last week.
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Daniel Lewis
