Lopez sets up all-Spanish clash with Nadal at Paris Masters

Feliciano Lopez set up a second-round meeting Rafael Nadal at the Paris Masters thanks to a 7-6(11), 6-1 victory over Filip Krajinovic on Monday. It was a ruthless serving display by the Spaniard.

Tennis Majors

November 2, 2020

Feliciano Lopez clinched a 7-6(11), 6-1 victory over Filip Krajinovic at the Paris Masters to set up a second-round meeting with world No 2 Rafael Nadal. Lopez came through the match against the Serbian, ranked 30th in the world, at the Bercy Arena in one hour and 25 minutes on Monday afternoon.

The 39-year-old saved six set points in the first-set tiebreaker before he ruthlessly closed out the second to secure a first meeting with Nadal in five years.

Lopez has beaten his fellow Spaniard in their past two meetings — in Cincinnati in 2015 and Shanghai in 2014. However, Nadal boasts a better record overall in their head-to-head with nine wins to Lopez’s four.

Lock it in @RafaelNadal will face @feliciano_lopez in pursuit of his 1000th tour-level win

Lopez overcame Krajinovic 7-6(11), 6-1 on Day 1 of the @RolexPMasters. pic.twitter.com/SjDwR1H3aX

— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 2, 2020

Borna Coric, seeded 15th, claimed a 7-6(5), 6-1 win over Hungarian qualifier Marton Fucsovics.

Lucky loser Radu Albot saw off 21 aces to edge past Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-4 to seal a meeting with world No 8 Andrey Rublev, winner of the Vienna Open this past Sunday.

Marin Cilic claimed a 6-0 3-6 6-3 win at the expense of Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Alex de Minaur beat Stefano Travaglia 6-4, 6-4.