Nadal eases into Barcelona meet quarterfinals

BARCELONA: Rafael Nadal extended his Open Era record to 40 for consecutive sets won on clay on Thursday when he eased past Spanish compatriot Guillermo Garcia Lopez 6-1, 6-3 and into the Barcelona quarter-finals. World number one Nadal, chasing an 11th title at the tournament, a week after claiming the Monte Carlo Masters for an 11th time, will next face Slovakia’s Martin Klizan.

OSTAPENKO ADVANCES

STUTTGART: Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko continued to build for her Paris title defence with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Zarina Diyas on Thursday at the Stuttgart Grand Prix.

The Latvian was joined in the quarter-finals at the Porsche arena by fifth seed Karolina Pliskova as the Czech beat Russian qualifier Veronika Kudermetova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

YUKI AND BOPANNA FOR ARJUNA AWARD

NEW DELHI: The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has nominated Yuki Bhambri and doubles expert Rohan Bopanna for the Arjuna award. AITA Secretary General Hironmoy Chatterjee confirmed that they have nominated the two players. “Yes, we have recommended them,” said Chatterjee. Yuki recently reclaimed his place in top-100, achieving his career-best rank of 83. “It’s an honour to be nominated. It’s acknowledgment of my hard work,” said Yuki.

Bopanna, who had won the French Open mixed doubles title last year with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski, was nominated last year after the deadline had passed.