Rafael Nadal vs Guillermo Garcia Lopez Tennis Prediction

Rafael Nadal leads the H2H 5-1 (2-0 on clay) including winning their recent meeting here at Barcelona in 2012 (R2). Rafael Nadal will have to work hard for his wins in the coming weeks as dominant performances on this surfaces means the opponents will have a nothing to lose attitude but will also have the motivation to take at least a set, something no one has done against Nadal (on clay) since Dominic Thiem in 2017 Rome Masters.

Rafael Nadal News

For the first time in six matches, Rafael Nadal dropped more than five games in a match as he was troubled to an extent by compatriot Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round of ATP Barcelona, 6-4 6-4.
The world #1 has appeared here 14 times in the past with his only previous round of 16 defeat coming in 2015, against Fabio Fognini. Since that defeat, Rafael Nadal has played ten matches in Barcelona and won them all in straight sets.
After winning the Monte Carlo Masters title for the record 11th time, Nadal is bidding to get his hands on the Barcelona trophy for the 11th time as well.
Having successfully defended his points at Monte Carlo last week, Rafael Nadal still has got a bulk of points to defend in the coming weeks in order to retain the #1 position by the start of the grass season.

Guillermo Garcia Lopez News

Guillermo Garcia Lopez benefited from Kei Nishikori’s fitness struggles as the Japanse #1 was forced to retire after losing the first set 3-6.
Only once in his previous eight appearances, Guillermo Garcia Lopez has managed to reach the round of 16 here at Barcelona (2010) but ended up losing to a left-handed opponent, Thomaz Bellucci, in straight sets.
The veteran Spaniard has already registered eight wins on clay this season, including two quarterfinal appearances at Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.

Tennis Prediction: Under 17.5 Games
Odds: 1.53