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Home , Alexander Peya, Alexander Waske, Barcelona Open (tennis), Daniel Nestor, David Ferrer, Elias Ymer

OPEN BANCSABADELL PREVIEW & DAY 1 MEDIA NOTES Monday, April 18, 2016

Real Club de Tenis Barcelona 1899, Barcelona, | April 18-24, 2016 Draw: S-48, D-16 | Prize Money: €2,152,690 | Surface: Clay

ATP Info: Tournament Info: ATP PR & Marketing: www.ATPWorldTour.com www.barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com Maria Garcia-Planas: [email protected] @ATPWorldTour @bcnopenbs Nanette Duxin: [email protected] facebook.com/ATPWorldTour facebook.com/barcelonaopenbancsabadell Press Room: +34 93 2052365

BARCELONA OPEN BANCSABADELL TALKING POINTS

 TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: Four of the Top 10 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings -- , , and -- are the top seeds in the 48-player field at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona 1899, the oldest club in Spain. This is the 64th edition of the tournament. Overall, 11 of the Top 30 are in the field. In 2014, Nishikori broke an 11- year streak of Spaniards winning the title. There are two former champions in Barcelona: two-time reigning champ Nishikori and eight-time winner Nadal. Ferrer finished as runner-up in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, losing to Nadal in all four finals. There have been 11 all-Spanish finals in the Open Era, including seven of the last 11 years (all involving Nadal).

 DAY 1 PREVIEW: Four first-round singles matches comprise Monday’s lineup on Pista Central, beginning with two-time Quito champion Victor Estrella Burgos against . Following that match, Croatian qualifier Franko Skugor challenges Spain’s Iñigo Cervantes, whose comeback from elbow and hip injuries led him to his first ATP World Tour semi-final at São Paulo earlier this season. In the third match on Pista Central, 2013 finalist Nicolas Almagro brings a 25-12 tournament record into his meeting with . The final match of the day pits a pair of Germans as qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff faces 18-year-old .

 RAFA ON CLOUD NINE: Nine-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal added a ninth ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo title on April 17. He returns to his native Spain this week and is bidding for his ninth Barcelona title. Nadal is 43-3 lifetime at the BancSabadell, highlighted by a 41-match win streak from 2005 to 2014. His countryman, Nicolas Almagro, ended Nadal’s unbeaten run in the 2014 quarter-finals. Nadal avenged that loss in his opening match last year before falling to in the third round.

 NISHIKORI SEEKS THREE-PEAT: World No. 6 and two-time reigning champion Kei Nishikori makes his sixth straight appearance in Barcelona and owns a 15-3 tournament record. In 2014, Nishikori entered the Barcelona Open BancSabadell ranked No. 17. He dropped only one set en route to his first clay-court title, then lost just one set again in 2015 to repeat as champion. Nishikori is 19-6 this season, highlighted by his fourth straight Memphis title. In his last tournament, the 26- year-old finished as runner-up to World No. 1 at ATP Masters 1000 Miami.

 NEXT GENERATION: There are four Next Generation players in the main draw -- rising stars who were born after December 31, 1994 and are ranked in the Top 200 of the Emirates ATP Rankings: Next Generation Ranking Age Alexander Zverev No. 51 (Career-High) 18 (19th birthday is April 20) Hyeon Chung No. 71 19 No. 123 (Career-High) 20 No. 138 19

 SPANISH ARMADA: There are 13 Spaniards in the draw, including four seeds: No. 1 Rafael Nadal, No. 3 David Ferrer, No. 5 and No. 7 Feliciano Lopez. Ferrer, a four-time finalist, is making his 14th straight appearance. Bautista Agut reached the quarter-finals last year and Lopez, who made his debut in 1998, is playing the tournament for the 16th time.

Barcelona Open BancSabadell Day 1 – Monday, April 18, 2016 Page 2 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

BARCELONA SINGLES CHAMPIONS AND FINALISTS (since 2005)

YEAR WINNER FINALIST SCORE Bold = Denotes those in this year’s draw 2015 Kei Nishikori Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-4

2014 Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-2 2013 Rafael Nadal Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3

2012 Rafael Nadal David Ferrer 7-6(1), 7-5

2011 Rafael Nadal David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4 2010 Robin Soderling 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

2009 Rafael Nadal David Ferrer 6-2, 7-5

2008 Rafael Nadal David Ferrer 6-1, 4-6, 6-1

2007 Rafael Nadal Guillermo Cañas 6-3, 6-4

2006 Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 6-0

2005 Rafael Nadal 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-3

BARCELONA DOUBLES CHAMPIONS (since 2006)

YEAR WINNER YEAR WINNER 2015 & 2010 & Nenad Zimonjic 2014 & Stephane Robert 2009 Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjic 2013 & 2008 & 2012 & 2007 & 2011 Santiago Gonzalez & 2006 & Daniel Nestor

WHO TO WATCH IN SINGLES SEED PLAYER RECORD BEST FINISH 1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 43-3 2005-09, 2011-13 Champion 2 Kei Nishikori (JPN) 15-3 2014-15 Champion 3 David Ferrer (ESP) 28-13 2008-09, 2011-12 Runner-up 4 Richard Gasquet (FRA) 4-3 2011 Round of 16 5 Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 3-2 2015 Quarter-finalist 6 Benoit Paire (FRA) 5-5 2013, 2015 Round of 16 7 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 18-15 2011-12 Quarter-finalist 8 (SRB) 0-2 2008-09 Round of 64 9 (URU) 3-4 2015 Round of 16 10 (GER) 7-5 2013 Semi-finalist 11 (UKR) 0-3 2014 Round of 32 12 Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2-6 2015 Quarter-finalist 13 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 2-2 2013 Round of 16 14 Joao Sousa (POR) 2-3 2012, 2015 Round of 32 15 (BRA) 6-4 2010, 2013 Quarter-finalist 16 Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 3-4 2013-15 Round of 32 Barcelona Open BancSabadell Day 1 – Monday, April 18, 2016 Page 3 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

 QUALIFIERS (6):  WILD CARDS (4):  OLDEST: Pedro Cachin (ARG) Albert Montañes (ESP) Radek Stepanek (CZE) Marton Fucsovics (HUN) (ESP) 37 years, 5 months Karen Khachanov (RUS) Benoit Paire (FRA) Franco Skugor (CRO) Elias Ymer (SWE)  YOUNGEST: Radek Stepanek (CZE) Jaume Munar (ESP) Jan-Lennard Struff 18 years, 11 months (GER)  TOP COUNTRY BREAKDOWN: Spain (13), (5), (3), Germany (3), Argentina (2), Croatia (2)

WHO TO WATCH IN DOUBLES

SEED PLAYER BEST FINISH 1 & 2014 Semi-finalists 2 Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan 2003, 2008 Champions Murray: 2015 Runner-up 3 & Bruno Soares Soares: 2013 Champion Bopanna: 2014 Quarter-finalist 4 & Jean-Julien Rojer Rojer: 2012 Quarter-finalist

EMIRATES ATP RANKING POINTS AND PRIZE MONEY

W F SF QF R16 R32 R64 SINGLES RANKING POINTS 500 300 180 90 45 20 0 SINGLES PRIZE MONEY (€) 460,000 218,750 104,150 52,075 26,060 13,935 7,950 DOUBLES RANKING POINTS 500 300 180 90 0 — — DOUBLES PRIZE MONEY (€) 143,000 68,000 33,520 17,200 8,960 — —

DAY 1 FEDEX ATP 2 HEADS -- In Order of Play

PISTA CENTRAL

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) vs Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) First ATP Meeting Other meetings: 09 Roland Garros Q (France) Clay 1R Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5 6-4 12 Prostejov CH () Clay R32 Victor Estrella Burgos 2-6 6-4 7-5

Kukushkin 2016 FastFacts QF: Memphis (l. to Nishikori) YTD W-L: 8-9 (0-0 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 1 Date of Birth: December 26, 1987 Emirates ATP Ranking: 89 Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 5-7 (2008 Round of 16)

• Advanced to QF at Memphis (d. Vanni and Kudla, l. to No. 7 Nishikori) • Defeated Troicki and led No. 1 Djokovic 2 sets to 1 before falling in 5 sets during 1R (SRB d. KAZ 3-2) • Fell to No. 6 Nishikori in ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 2R – 9th straight loss vs. Top 10 opponents (2-26 overall) • Qualified at ATP Masters 1000 Miami (l. to Dzumhur in 3R) and Sydney (l. to Chardy in 1R) • Suffered 4th straight 1R loss (l. to Sousa) • Retired vs. Young in Delray Beach 1R due to left leg injury Barcelona Open BancSabadell Day 1 – Monday, April 18, 2016 Page 4 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

Estrella Burgos 2016 FastFacts W: Quito (d. Bellucci) YTD W-L: 6-6 (5-1 on clay) YTD Titles: 1 / Career Titles: 2 Date of Birth: August 2, 1980 Emirates ATP Ranking: 78 Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 2-1 (2015 Round of 16)

• Captured 2nd ATP World Tour championship at Quito, defending 2015 title with 46 76(5) 62 win over Bellucci • Improved to 10-0 in Quito during career (20-36 at other tour-level events excluding Davis Cup) • Only other singles win of season came in Acapulco 1R (d. L. Gomez, l. to Fritz) • Reached 2nd ATP doubles final at Houston w/S. Gonzalez (l. to Bryan/Bryan 10-8 in Match TB)

[Q] Franko Skugor (CRO) vs Iñigo Cervantes (ESP) First ATP Meeting Other meetings: 10 Rome Q (Italy) Clay 2R Franko Skugor 6-4 6-1 15 Trnava CH () Clay R16 Franko Skugor 7-6(5) 7-5

Skugor 2016 FastFacts YTD W-L: 1-2 (0-1 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: September 20, 1987 Emirates ATP Ranking: 146 (Career-High) Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 0-0 (2016 Debut)

• Qualified at Dubai (l. to No. 4 Wawrinka in 2R) and Marrakech (l. to Montañes in 1R) • Singles win over Gabashvili in Dubai 1R was 1st at tour-level since 2010 Umag 1R (d. Volandri) • Helped Croatia to 3-2 victory over Belgium in Davis Cup 1R by winning doubles w/Dodig (d. Bemelmans/Goffin) • Also in doubles, advanced to Santo Domingo, DOM Challenger final w/Eysseric (l. to Behar/Lapentti)

Cervantes 2016 FastFacts SF: São Paulo (l. to Carreño Busta) YTD W-L: 7-10 (5-6 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: November 30, 1989 Emirates ATP Ranking: 57 Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 2-2 (2014 Round of 16)

• Beat 2014 champion Delbonis 76(6) 26 64 in 1st ATP World Tour QF at São Paulo (l. to Carreño Busta in 1st SF) • Achieved career-high No. 56 in Emirates ATP Rankings on March 21 • Defeated Riba in Quito 1R for 1st tour-level win since 2014 Barcelona (l. to Carreño Busta in 2R) • Made winning ATP Masters 1000 debut at Indian Wells (d. Almagro, l. to Raonic in 2R) • Held 4 MPs vs. Troicki in Miami 2R and 1 MP vs. Paire in Monte-Carlo 1R before losing both matches 76 in 3rd • Reached 1st ATP doubles final of career w/Lorenzi at Buenos Aires (l. to Cabal/Farah)

Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs Nicolas Almagro (ESP) First Meeting

Gabashvili 2016 FastFacts SF: Sydney (l. to Troicki) YTD W-L: 7-10 (0-2 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: May 23, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 54 Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 6-9 (2014 Quarter-finalist) Barcelona Open BancSabadell Day 1 – Monday, April 18, 2016 Page 5 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

• Snapped 0-16 start to career in ATP World Tour QFs by reaching Sydney SF (d. Tomic, l. to Troicki) • Saved 3 MPs to upset defending champion Simon in Marseille 1R (l. to Kyrgios in 2R) • Achieved career-high No. 43 in Emirates ATP Rankings on February 1 • Defeated Windahl and Arvidsson to help Russia sweep Sweden 5-0 in Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group I

Almagro 2016 FastFacts F: Buenos Aires (l. to Thiem) YTD W-L: 7-8 (6-5 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 12 Date of Birth: August 21, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 66 Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 25-12 (2013 Runner-up)

• Advanced to 1st final since 2014 Houston at Buenos Aires (l. to Thiem 76 in 3rd) • Beat No. 9 Tsonga in QF and No. 6 Ferrer in SF to snap 6-match losing streak vs. Top 10 (19-66 overall) • Improved to 1-15 lifetime against fellow Spaniard Ferrer • Reached 2R at Australian Open (l. to Thiem), Rio de Janeiro (l. to No. 5 Nadal) and Marrakech (l. to Garcia- Lopez)

[Q] Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs Alexander Zverev (GER) First ATP Meeting Other meeting: 15 Heilbronn CH (Germany) Clay SF Alexander Zverev 6-3 7-6(2)

Struff 2016 FastFacts YTD W-L: 1-3 (0-1 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: April 25, 1990 Emirates ATP Ranking: 113 Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 0-2 (2013, 2015 Round of 64)

• Snapped 13-match losing streak by beating Mahut in Montpellier 1R (l. to Bemelmans in 2R) • Qualified at ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo (l. to Thiem 16 63 64 in 1R) • Advanced to Jonkoping, SWE Challenger SF (l. to Khachanov 76 in 3rd)

Zverev 2016 FastFacts SF: Montpellier (l. to Mathieu); QF: (l. to Monfils) YTD W-L: 11-9 (1-1 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: April 20, 1997 Emirates ATP Ranking: 51 (Career-High) Barcelona W-L (Best Result): 0-0 (2016 Debut)

• Beat Dimitrov and Simon en route to ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 4R (l. to No. 5 Nadal after holding 1 MP) • Reached 3rd ATP singles SF at Montpellier (d. Vanni in 1R after saving 1 MP, l. to Mathieu) • Win over No. 13 Cilic in Montpellier 2R is biggest of career by ranking • Achieved career-high No. 52 in Emirates ATP Rankings on March 21 • Advanced to Rotterdam QF (d. Simon 76 in 3rd, l. to Monfils) • Appeared in 2nd ATP doubles final with older brother Mischa at Montpellier (l. to Pavic/Venus) • In Davis Cup debut, fell to No. 7 Berdych in 4h, 20m and Rosol in deciding rubber (CZE d. GER 3-2)

Barcelona Open BancSabadell Day 1 – Monday, April 18, 2016 Page 6 of 6 www.ATPWorldTour.com

PISTA 1

Malek Jaziri (TUN) vs Hyeon Chung (KOR) First Meeting

Santiago Giraldo (COL) vs [Q] Radek Stepanek (CZE) Stepanek Leads 2-0 10 Basel (Switzerland) Hard R16 Radek Stepanek 3-6 6-2 6-0 11 Basel (Switzerland) Hard R32 Radek Stepanek 6-1 6-3

Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) vs [WC] Albert Montañes (ESP) Montañes Leads 1-0 14 Oeiras (Portugal) Clay R32 Albert Montañes 7-6(4) 6-3 Other meeting: 15 Napoli CH (Italy) Clay R32 Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1 4-3 ret

PISTA 2

Facundo Bagnis (ARG) vs (RUS) First Meeting

[Q] Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Aljaz Bedene (GBR) First Meeting

OTHER FIRST-ROUND FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS

Marcel Granollers (ESP) vs Daniel Muñoz de la Nava (ESP) First ATP Meeting Other meetings: 08 Costa Do Sauipe Q (Brazil) Clay 1R Daniel Muñoz de la Nava 2-6 6-3 6-1 08 Buenos Aires Q (Argentina) Clay 2R Daniel Muñoz de la Nava 5-7 7-6(9) 6-1 08 St. Brieuc CH (France) Clay R16 6-3 6-2 15 CH (Russia) Clay QF Daniel Muñoz de la Nava 6-3 5-7 6-4

Rajeev Ram (USA) vs (RUS) Youzhny Leads 1-0 12 St. Petersburg (Russia) Hard R16 Mikhail Youzhny 6-1 6-4

[Q] Marton Fucsovics (HUN) vs (LAT) Fucsovics Leads 1-0 12 HUN vs. LAT EAG2 2nd Rd (Hungary) Carpet RR Marton Fucsovics 6-7(7) 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-3

Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP) vs (UZB) Carreño Busta Leads 1-0 16 Marrakech () Clay R16 Pablo Carreño Busta 6-3 7-6(5)

[Q] Pedro Cachin (ARG) vs Ivan Dodig (CRO) First Meeting

Albert Ramos-Viñolas (ESP) vs [WC] Jaume Munar (ESP) First ATP Meeting Other meeting: 15 Cordenons CH (Italy) Clay R32 Albert Ramos-Viñolas 6-3 6-0

Thiemo de Bakker (NED) vs [WC] Elias Ymer (SWE) Ymer Leads 1-0 15 Barcelona (Spain) Clay R64 Elias Ymer 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4 Other meeting: 15 São Paulo Q (Brazil) Clay 2R 6-3 6-3