Rafael Nadal extended his record run on clay to 69 straight wins as he moved a step closer to a title hat-trick at the Barcelona Open. The Spanish top seed beat former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-1, 6-4, but not without a spirited comeback from the Swede in a combative second set of the third-round contest.
Nadal said he is under no pressure when he plays, but knows that his charmed life cannot go on forever.
"I don't think about the record when I'm on the court," said the double Roland Garros winner. "I only concentrate on the match.
"The opponent also deserves respect. I know that I will lose sometime."
After riding roughshod over the number 73 Johansson in a 21-minute opener, Nadal looked like having things all his own way.
But Johansson, 32, showed nerve as he re-discovered his survival instincts to turn the second into a struggle at the Real club.
Johansson fired six aces and held serve in a marathon sixth game featuring eight deuces.
But Nadal had the last word in front of his home public, breaking for victory in the final game after Johansson followed an ace with a run of errors.
It took Nadal appropriately 69 minutes to go through.
The Spaniard is bidding to collect a hat-trick of Barcelona titles, aiming to become the second man after Swede Mats Wilander (1982-1984) to win the event three times on the trot.
"I controlled the game in the first set but he played well in the second," said the winner. "I tried not to let up after winning the first easily.
"It's unbelievable to win 69 on clay and it's especially nice to play here, where I have so much support." SOURCE: © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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