Kei Nishikori is just one win away from successfully defending his Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell title after the Japanese star crushed 14th seed Martin Klizan on Saturday in straight sets to meet unseeded Pablo Andujar in the final.
The world number 5 hit 25 winners past his opponent and managed to save all of the six break points he faced on serve to claim the win in straight sets in the match lasting little over an hour, taking it 6-1 6-2.
The 77 minute win means the Japanese star booked his spot in the Barcelona final for a second consecutive year, winning the title in 2014 only dropping 1 set throughout the entire tournament.
Nishikori will be looking to win his ninth ATP World Tour title of his career, having captured his eighth earlier in the year after he successfully defended his title in Memphis in Feburary, defeating Kevin Anderson.
His win over the Slovakian means Nishikori has moved to a 25-5 win/loss of the season, a good statistic heading into Sunday’s final against Pablo Andujar who recorded his first ever win over his compatriot David Ferrer.
The unseeded Spaniard came through against Ferrer in a tricky match lasting under 1 hour 45 minutes. The first set proved to be key, despite serving out for the first set Andujar managed to re-group after Ferrer broke back to take the first set to a tie break which Andujar eventually took 8 points to 6.
After securing the first set the 29 year old struck again breaking third seed Ferrer straight away at the start of the second. Anujar was able to save 2 out of 4 break points he faced on serve, also managing to break Ferrer 3 times throughout the match.
Anujar recorded his first ever win over Ferrer in four meetings, having previously never won a set against his countryman, winning the match 7-6(6) 6-3, giving the tournament home interest in the final against Nishikori.
Sunday’s final will be the fourth meeting between the pair. The two have split their previous meetings with Nishikori winning their last encounter at the 2014 U.S. Open, however it was Andujar won won their only clay-court meeting back in 2013 in Madrid, winning in straight sets.
Nishikori will be determined to defend the 2015 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell title however it will be Andujar who will have the full support of the home crowd, the match should prove to be a tightly contested affair with both players in good form ahead of their fourth meeting.
