Nadal, who is currently ranked 644th on the ATP list but is playing by special invitation as the 11-time champion in Catalonia, looked great on a court where he has felt great throughout his career. He warmed up in the first three games, but from the fourth, when he used the third break point, he started grinding his opponent. He had problems only in the sixth game when he saved four break points to win the second set 6-2.