Nadal, Ferrer Back …

Spaniards Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer are back in Brazil this week, to a city they have already tasted title success – Rio de Janeiro. They are the tournament’s top two seeds with each looking to add a second Rio crown to their collection.

World No. 5 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Nadal is making his fifth career appearance (17-1 record) in a Brazilian tournament on the ATP World Tour. He won titles in Costa do Sauipe in 2005 (d. A. Martin), Sao Paulo  in 2013 (d. Nalbandian) and Rio in 2014 (d. Dolgopolov). The 29 year old’s only loss came last year to Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the semi-finals.

“I came to Rio because I always had good results here,” Nadal said. “My first time I ended as champion and last year I made the semi-finals. I’m very happy to be here in Rio and willing to play my fisrt match now.”

Nadal comes off a run to the Argentina Open final in Buenos Aires where he fell in a third-set tie-break to rising Austrian Dominic Thiem. The Spaniard paid tribute to his conqueror and another youngster making waves during the same week, 18-year-old Taylor Fritz, who reached his first ATP World Tour final in Memphis.

“It is a generation that for a few years we have been waiting for it to arrive,” Nadal said. “Last week also saw an American (Fritz ) played the final in Memphis, which is very good for the circuit and for everyone in general the fact that there are new players, young players. I’m happy about it.

“Thiem is a player who has great potential. He is a player that if he can maintain the level and keep improving a Little, he is a candidate to do great things. We must congratulate him for the great week in Buenos Aires.”

The Spaniard will open against countryman Pablo Carreno Busta, a player he carries a 2-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against. Nadal beat Carreno Busta here last year in the Round of 16 and most recently in three sets in the Round of 32 in Doha to start his season.

Defending champion Ferrer enters with an 8-1 career record in Rio, having reached the semi-finals two years ago (l. to Dolgopolov) before winning the title last year (d. Fognini). The 33 year old Spaniard is off to an 8-4 start this season, highlighted by a semi-final finish in Auckland (l. to Sock), a quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open (l. to Murray) and a semi-final run in Buenos Aires last week (l. to Nicolas Almagro).

“This year and last year I came here playing well,” Ferrer said. “In 2015, I won Doha and made the quarter-finals in Australia. This season, I made the quarters in Australia and reached the semis in Buenos Aires. So I come to Rio wanting to have a good tournament  and hopefully win again.”

Ferrer begins his title defence against Chilean wild card Nicolas Jarry, a 20 year old who stood as high as No. 172 in the Emirates ATP Rankings last May.  One of the game’s fittest players, Ferrer spoke of the need to be in peak condition physically to compete in South and Central America.

“It’s tough for all the players. Sometimes it ends up being a physical battle rather than a tennis one, because it is about who is physically stronger or better hydrated,” Ferrer said. “It has always been the case in Buenos Aires , Rio and Acapulco. They are very tough tournaments physically because of the heat and humidity. You have to be prepared for these conditions.”