Barcelona Open 2019: Rafael Nadal Beats Jan-Lennard Struff, Meets Dominic Thiem In Semi-finals

Rafael Nadal edges closer to 12th appearing in the final of the Barcelona Open having defeated Jan-Lennard Struff in quarter-finals.
The German, 28, gave it a good fight on his career first ATP FedEx meeting with the top seed but conceded to the Spaniard in straight sets, 7-5 7-5 after one hour and 45 minutes.
Nadal bidding for his 12th out-door clay court title in Open Banc Sabadell.
Struff was very resilient to concede the match serving nine aces compared to Nadal who just three aces but engaged his experience to avoid a tiebreak and after breaking the German at love for 6-5 in the second set, he ended the match with a winning forehand shot just down the line.
The Spaniard will be facing in the semi-finals Austrian veteran Dominic Thiem who defeated him last year in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid.