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Nadal ducks ‘greatest ever’ question and welcomes Djokovic test

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Barcelona: Rafael Nadal hailed Novak Djokovic’s late entry into the Barcelona Open at a press conference at the Real Club Tennis 1899 on Monday.


The world’s number one also pointed to his record number of titles when asked if he was history’s greatest on clay.


Asked about Djokovic, Nadal said: “It’s good news for the tournament that one of the best players in history is going to play here.


“It’s bad news for his rivals, perhaps, but, for the people here in Barcelona and tennis lovers, it’s good.”


Nadal will face Djokovic in the quarterfinals if both players progress. He comes into the event having won his 11th Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.


He said: “It’s another Masters for me and I enjoyed the victory even more because of the injury problems of last year.”


Asked about this week’s competition he said: “It’s a very difficult field and my draw is not going to be easy. I will have some tough rivals. I will need to play very well.”


Nadal will begin his defence of the Barcelona Open on Wednesday when he faces the winner of the match between Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer and Spaniard Andreas Carballes Baena.


Asked if he was the all-time number one on clay, Nadal said: “I don’t know. It’s not for me to say.


“It’s difficult to compare eras. With humility I can say that the numbers are what they are.


“I am the one that has won the most titles on this surface yes. But do I like to talk about these things? No I don’t.”


Nadal was lauded in the local press on Monday.


‘Nadal’s legend grows’ headlined Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia as his win in Monte Carlo made it 15 consecutive years winning at least one title — something only Roger Federer had achieved before (from 2001-2015).


Meanwhile on Monday on ‘Pista Rafael Nadal’ the court named after the 10-times tournament winner, France’s Benoit Paire beat Chile’sNicolas Jarry in three sets 7-6, 6-7, 6-4, to progress to the second round.


It was a mixed day for Spain’s other representatives.


Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Marcel Granollers both made it into the second round.


But fellow Spaniards Tommy Robredo, Ricardo Ojeda and Pedro Martínez were all knocked out.


Garcia-Lopez beat Yuichi Sugita and will now play Kei Nishikori, who was beaten in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters by Nadal on Sunday, in the next round.


Granollers will face the Belgian David Goffin in the next round,after beating Mikhail Kukushkin. — dpa


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