Monday 27 April 2015 16:15, UK
The clay court swing continued last week in the sunny city of Barcelona, but what did we learn from this ATP 500 event?
Classy Kei retains his title
Kei Nishikori completed his second title defence of the season, beating Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-4 to take the Barcelona title. The Japan player joins an illustrious list of hitters who have retained the crown at the Real Club de Tenis, with Rafael Nadal, Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl, Ilie Nastase and Andres Gomez the famous faces to have done so previously.
It's been an exciting season for Nishikori, who won the Memphis title for the third straight year last month, and has reached at least the quarter-finals in every tournament - other than Indian Wells - that he competed in.
Sky Sports expert Barry Cowan has tipped the 25-year-old for success at next month's French Open.
He said: "If Novak doesn't win the French, then Nishikori can.
"He's a very good clay-courter, we saw that last year, and he knows he belongs in the higher echelons of the game.
"Kei Nishikori is one that you can put into the mix to win the French Open."
Footballers love the tennis and tennis players love football
There were a number of Barcelona footballers in the crowd during last week. Neymar, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique - along with his pop star girlfriend Shakira - were all witnesses to the terrific tennis on offer.
Meanwhile, British No.1 Andy Murray along with pal Ross Hutchins, was at the Camp Nou to watch Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Rafa's not quite ready
The King of Clay himself admitted he was nowhere his best during his last-16 defeat to Fabio Fognini in Barcelona, saying: "Today is a bad day, but my challenge is to get back to my best level again and I will work until that happens. I have the conviction that it will happen.
"It was a disaster today. Fabio played better than me and he deserved to win. I didn't deserve to win. Until I sort out the ups and downs I'm suffering from this season, I will continue to be vulnerable.”
Nadal is entering one of the most crucial times of his career as he struggles to find consistency ahead of the French Open a title he was won consecutively for the past five years.
Andujar comes close
With home heroes Nadal and David Ferrer unable to reach the finals, it was down to another Spanish player, Pablo Andujar, to step into the fold.
The 29-year-old, who now falls to 3-4 in Tour finals, was aiming to become the 12th different home grown player to win the Trofeo Conde de Godó crown. Previous to Nishikori's win in the 2014, the tournament had had a Spanish champion for the past 11 years.
Andujar dispatched compatriot Ferrer, as well as Fognini, Leonardo Mayer and Feliciano Lopez on route to the final, all of whom are seeded higher than him.
Despite going down in straight sets in the final, it was a quality performance from the world number 42.
"It was a great, high-quality final," said Andujar. "We were both playing well. I played better in the second set and I felt I deserved something more, but what happened was I let some opportunities pass. I believe that I could have won but here we are. I feel I played my best tennis this week."
Klizan climbs to new heights
Slovakian left-hander Martin Klizan was another winner in Barcelona. Despite being knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winner Nishikori, the 25-year-old reaches an all-time career ranking high of 24 after his run in the tournament.
Unfortunately Klizan, who speaks six languages, won't be able to defend his title in Munich this week. Andy Murray may have been a potential opponent at the BMW Open but Klizan has been struck with a wrist injury and has had to withdraw.
