After what he declared to be his most positive week of the season so far in Monte-Carlo, World No. 4 Rafael Nadal is now in Barcelona, preparing to launch his campaign for a ninth Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell crown.
The Spaniard joined defending champion Kei Nishikori at the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau on Monday to play a game of mini-tennis in front of watching fans and journalists.
Top seed Nishikori defeated No. 15 seed Santiago Giraldo 6-2, 6-1 to keep alive his quest of retaining the title at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament. He saved six of seven break points for victory in 83 minutes.