BARCELONA, Spain — Rafael Nadal beat defending champion Kei Nishikori 6-4, 7-5 to win the Barcelona Open for the ninth time on Sunday, equaling Guillermo Vilas' record of 49 career clay-court titles.
Nadal added this title to his trophy from Monte Carlo last week as the 14-time Grand Slam winner regains form on his favorite surface ahead of next month's French Open.
"I'm very happy because besides this being one of the most important tournaments that I have won, this is another week that I am playing very well," Nadal said. "These have been two fantastic weeks, weeks I have been striving for for a long time.