Nadal has now moved into second place in the 2016
point race to the World Tour Finals in London [EPA]
Nadal moves into second place in the 2016 point
race to the World Tour Finals in London. He earned
his first back-to-back titles in successive weeks since
Toronto and Cincinnati in August 2013.
Nadal, who will target a 10th French Open title next
month, and former Argentine great Vilas have both
won 49 clay court titles and Nadal will be confident
of edging ahead when he moves on to Madrid and
Rome before Roland Garros.
Nishikori, Asia's best player, last lost at the event in
2013 when he went down to Spain's Albert Ramos in
the third round.
"It's been a great three years for me, even if I lost
today," Nishikori said. "I feel very comfortable here.
Every year I feel excited to come back to play."
The victory denied Nishikori the chance to join Nadal
and Mats Wilander as the only men to have lifted the
trophy at the Real Club de Tenis over three
consecutive years.
The match marked the first time since 2008 that the
top two seeds played in the Barcelona final. Nadal
defeated David Ferrer that year.
Spain's king of clay now stands 9-0 in Barcelona
finals and has won nine titles in three events: Monte
Carlo, Roland Garros and Barcelona.
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