Nadal trounces Gimeno-Traver in Barcelona opener

Thursday, 21 April 2011 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters) - World number one Rafa Nadal began his quest for a sixth Barcelona Open title in seven years by trouncing fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-1 6-1 in the second round on Wednesday.

The top seed, who won a seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters crown on his favoured clay surface on Sunday, took his phenomenal winning record on the red dust since 2005 to 182-6 to set up a last-16 clash against Colombian Santiago Giraldo.

Nadal, the Wimbledon, French Open and U.S. Open champion, sealed victory on his second match point with a trademark forehand winner down the line that his 60th-ranked opponent was unable to get a racket on.

“I played quite a good match,” Nadal said in an interview with Spanish television.

“At times he made more mistakes than probably he usually would and I was able to make the most of that,” added the 24-year-old who missed last year’s edition due to injury.

“I am very pleased to be back here in Barcelona after not being able to make it last time.”

Fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer, who lost to Nadal in the final in Monte Carlo, eased through with a 6-2 6-2 victory over Carlos Berlocq of Argentina.

Unseeded Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Germany’s Mischa Zverev, who replaced injured second seed Andy Murray, 6-4 7-5.