Rafael Nadal vs Roberto Carballes Baena LIVE: Latest Barcelona Open score and updates

Nadal is the current world No 1, the top seed in the tournament and is a 10-time winner of tournament in Barcelona.

The 31-year-old has been flawless on clay so far in 2018, winning two matches for Spain in the Davis Cup before heading to Monaco where he won the Monte Carlo Masters without losing a set.

Combined with his French Open triumph from last year, it is now nearly year since an opponent has taken a set off Nadal on his favoured surface, just one of a number of statistics that illustrate the size of the challenge before Carballes Baena.

Express Sport brings you all the action from Pista Rafael Nadal as it happens in Barcelona.

Rafael Nadal vs Roberto Carballes Baena LIVE

(* denotes next to serve)

Nadal 6-4 3-2 Carballes Baena*

Again, RCB holds serve but he knows he has to break Nadal soon to pull level in the set.

*Nadal 6-4 3-1 Carballes Baena

Some super tennis from Nadal as he moves to the net and his opponent attempts a lob which draws a superb volley from the world No 1. RCB makes it difficult again but Nadal hangs on.

Nadal 6-4 2-1 Carballes Baena*

Just the responce RCB needed as he delightfully serves the game to love.

*Nadal 6-4 2-0 Carballes Baena

Nadal is being forced to work for this but he holds serve with a ferocious forehand down the line.

Nadal 6-4 1-0 Carballes Baena*

Perfect start to the second set for Nadal as he breaks in the first game. RCB serves into the net with the score 30-40 and the world No 1 punishes his second. 

Rafael Nadal vs Roberto Carballes Baena LIVE

(* denotes next to serve)

RAFAEL NADAL WINS THE FIRST SET 6-4

There it is. Nadal has now won a staggering 47 sets in a row on clay, which is a truly ridiculous stat. He had to work for it though, with RCB finding plenty of form from the baseline and improvising when he has to. Nadal even has to save a break point after fluffing the first two set points – but the third is a bridge too far. Onwards goes Nadal.

*Nadal 5-4 Carballes Baena

A solid hold from RCB. He will at least force Nadal to serve it out.

Nadal 5-3 Carballes Baena*

Very nearly. RCB nearly lands a fine passing shot on the run, round the corner, that would have earned him a handhold in the game. However, it drops just wide and that is all the advantage Nadal needs to cruise into a 5-3 lead.

*Nadal 4-3 Carballes Baena

RCB is being able to work very hard for every point at the moment and Nadal pushes him to deuce. However, the 25-year-old finds a couple of big serves to stop the rot and win his first game in five.

Nadal 4-2 Carballes Baena*

Beautiful stuff from Nadal, who runs down a ball close to the net and has the presence of mind to drop the return – just – over the net. A big serve follows to close out the game and from 2-0 up, RCB trails 2-4.

*Nadal 3-2 Carballes Baena

What did I tell you? Don’t pass up opportunities to break Nadal because he will make you pay. The world No 1 puts the squeeze on and breaks for the second time in a row.

Nadal 2-2 Carballes Baena*

He’s getting chances, this lad. At deuce, he’s well in the point and comes toward the net with intent – but leaks the approach long! Nadal seals the game and that is the sort of opportunity RCB cannot pass up.

*Nadal 1-2 Carballes Baena

Strikes back immediately, and no-one is surprised. RCB manages to save the first break point with a very handy serve but Nadal gets into the next rally and the driven backhand down the line is too hot to handle. Back on serve.

Nadal 0-2 Carballes Baena*

Pretty sharp start from Nadal in the early part of the game. There is a brutal forehand, power summoned apparently from nowhere while on the run, followed two points later by a touch backhand volley dug out of his body.

However, he has to save a break point – and a second – but can’t save the third! Early sniff of an upset on Pista Rafael Nadal.

*Nadal 0-1 Carballes Baena

RCB (yeah, we’re going to call him that straight away and quickly realise he is not the Royal Challengers Bangalore) has a winning record against Nadal! In fairness, this is their first meeting.

Nadal to serve for the first time.

2pm: At last, they are knocking up. Good news because it means we will be underway shortly.

1.40pm: Djokovic out! Klizan double-faults at match point but gets over the line eventually and that is that for the Serbian’s tournament. Two steps forward, one step back for him at the moment. Nadal will follow shortly.

1.35pm: Are we in business here? Klizan breaks Djokovic in the eighth game of the decider and the Slovakian will serve for the match!

1pm: Quite the reversal on Pista Rafael Nadal – Djokovic needed only 33 minutes to lose the first set but in less than half an hour has levelled the match at 2-6, 6-1 against the world No 140. Nadal will have to wait a little longer with the decider coming up right now…

In the meantime, here is Nadal talking about the tournament he has won about a million times.

12.35pm: The court might be named after Nadal but he still has to wait to use it.

The world No 1, who must win this week to maintain that rank, is due on after Novak Djokovic and Martin Klizan finish their clash.

The winner could end up facing Nadal in the quarter-finals, remember.

There is something of an upset brewing too. Klizan has raced through the first set and taken it 6-2…