Veteran makes Nadal work
Veteran makes Nadal work 
From correspondents in Barcelona
Former Australian Captain April 27, 2007
SPAIN’S Rafael Nadal extended his record run on clay to 69 matches overnight, as he moved a step closer to a Barcelona Open hat-trick.
The No.1 seed beat former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-1 6-4 in 69 minutes, but not without a spirited comeback from the veteran Swede in a combatative second set of the third-round contest.
After riding roughshod over the No.73 in a 21-minute opener, Nadal looked like having things all his own way.
But Johansson, 32, showed nerve as he re-disovered his survival instincts to turn the second into a struggle at the Real club.
Johansson fired six aces and held serve in a marathon sixth game featuring eight deuces, but Nadal had the last word in front of his home public, breaking for victory in the final game.
“I controlled the game in the first set but he played well in the second,” said Nadal.
“I tried not to let up after winning the first easily.
“It’s unbelievable to win 69 on clay and it’s especially nice to play here, where I have so much support.” Nadal improved his Barcelona career record to 13-1, his lone loss coming in 2003 when he was beaten as a teenr in the second round by Alex Corretja, and now faces Italy surprise packet Potito Starace.
The No.72 beat Argentina’s No.8 seed Juan Chela 6-4 7-6 (12-10) in the third round.
David Ferrer, the No.5 seed, flew the flag for Spain, hammering Serbia’s Boris Pashanski 6-, 7-5.
Agence France-Presse