Rafael Nadal was tested for the first time this week as he beat Italian Potito Starace 6-2, 7-5 this morning to reach the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open and extend his record clay court winning streak to 70 matches.
The top seed was below his best and was pushed hard by the Italian world number 72 before coming through to set up a clash with fifth seed and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, who ousted Argentine fourth seed David Nalbandian 7-6, 6-2.
"I did not play as well as normal but it was difficult because the wind was swirling and he played well," Nadal said.
"It was a tough match but in the hardest moments, like at 5-5 (in the second set), I managed to overcome my difficulties."
Argentine 12th seed Guillermo Canas received a walkover into the semi-finals when his opponent, Russian second seed Nikolay Davydenko, withdrew before their match because of a right wrist injury.
Canas, who beat world number one Roger Federer twice on hard courts last month, will play his fellow Argentine, 15th seed Agustin Calleri, who crushed unseeded Spaniard Oscar Hernandez 6-0, 6-3. SOURCE: © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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