Nadal nails another record clay win

By Bill Scott Apr 25, 2007, 18:38 GMT

Rafael Nadal of Spain. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

Barcelona - Rafael Nadal led Spain's clay-court tennis Armada to second-round victories on Wednesday, but former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was unable to finish his match.

Nadal pounded Belgian Kristof Vliegen for the second week in a row, securing a 6-1, 6-2 win an an hour.

The number 1 also extended his clay-court winning run to 68 straight matches.

'It was tough for him after losing to me last week in Monte Carlo,' said Nadal. 'I didn't have to do so much today to win.

'I'm glad I was able to extend my streak, but I also know that it cannot go on forever.'

Fifth-seeded compatriot David Ferrer and Nadal's mentor Carlos Moya, a fellow Mallorcan, both advanced while former number 1 Ferrero was unable to continue due to stomach illness against local qualifier Pablo Andujar, quitting at 1-2.

Fifth seed Ferrer blanked American Paul Goldstein 6-0, 6-0 in a certified rout.

2003 champion Moya defeated 1999 holder and compatriot Felix Mantilla 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the pair's 14th meeting.

Moya, who won the 1998 French Open, stands 9-5 in the series. Mantilla was playing only his second match since treatment for skin cancer which forced him to miss the 2006 season.

Moya won his 32nd Barcelona match and second in a row after Estoril in 2005. He former number 1 now stands 17-9 this season, his best showing the Sydney final against James Blake.

Second seed Nikolay Davydenko came third time lucky, finally winning his first clay match of the season.

The player ranked fourth in the world recovered from losses on the surface at the Davis Cup and last week in Monte Carlo, where he went down to Swede Robin Soderling, defeating qualifier Yuri Schukin 6-4,3-6, 6-at the Real club.

The battle of Russians set up a Thursday match for Davydenko against Italy's Filippo Volandri, who upset Spanish 14th seed Nicolas Almagro.

The 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1 comeback came just over a week after Almagro began his clay season on fire with the Valencia title.

Argentine Juan Chela, seeded eighth, beat American Vince Spadea 6-3, 6-3. Finnish sixth seed Jarkko Nieminen overcame Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-4, 7-5.

The run of form continued for rehabilitated Guillermo Canas as the 12th-seeded Argentine whipped Czech Jiri Vanek 6-1, 6-1.

Canas, who came back last September after serving a doping ban, beat Roger Federer twice on American hardcourt last season.