Rafael Nadal is hellish, unbelievable, intractable… For the 12thtime in 12 finals in Barcelona, the Mallorcan won the trophy against Stefanos Tsitsipas after a huge fight of 3h38 of play (6-4, 6-7(6), 7-5). If everything has not been perfect in the game, the man at the 13 Roland Garros has continued to improve and grow since his defeat last week against Rublev in Monte-Carlo. An example of determination and humility in the work.
A match at the end of the suspense…
This final between Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas was quite surprising. In terms of level of play, it was not great tennis but the suspense and the end of the match brought the match into another dimension. Indeed, there was a physical and mental fight between the two men. And of course, in a register that he particularly likes, it is the Spaniard who emerged victorious from this duel. Won 6–4, 6–7(6), 7–5 after a tough match. The Greek, recent winner on clay in Monte Carlo will not achieve the double in Barcelona. :focal(1254x461:1256x459)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2021/04/25/3121465-63985028-2560-1440.jpg)
From the first set, both men played the surprise. While the Mallorcan had just conceded eleven points in a row and saved two balls from 4-1, he took advantage of an opponent's slack to line up five games in a row with more opportunism than domination.
In the second set, Rafael Nadal was playing better and better. This allowed him thanks to a boost to offer himself two match balls (6-4). With great composure, the Greek Tsitsipas dismissed them by going to the net. Nadal does not take advantage of his match balls and cracks with a double fault to six points everywhere.
In the last set, at 5-4 (30-40), it was the turn of the Greek to offer himself a match ball. The Mallorcan is doing very well with a backhand sound that flirts with the gang. The world No. 3 concludes the point with a beautiful forehand attack. Until the end, the Spaniard trembled with a new break ball to save before collapsing with joy and relief after a final fault from his opponent.
Rafael Nadal unbeaten in Barcelona
After a quarter-final defeat in Monte-Carlo against Andrey Rublev, the Spaniard was keen to redeem himself on Catalan soil. He won 12 titles in Barcelona in as many participations. Rafael Nadal celebrated in the most beautiful way the 16th anniversary of his entry into the top 10 of the ATP rankings, which he has not left since April 25, 2005 (813 weeks spent among the top ten in the world). This victory against the man in clay form, allows him to steal the runner-up place of Novak Djokovic to Daniil Medvedev (3rd). The Mallorcan left-hander won his 87th ATP title on Sunday, the 61st on clay. Sensational! The player who will aim for a 14th title at Rolland Garros soon has confided on his recent victory:
"I don't think I've ever played a final like this.Stefanos (Tsitsipas) was in top form, he won in Monte Carlo and hadn't lost a set yet. I'm really happy, I managed to improve my level of play all week, it was very important for me to win here again.Sometimes you have to accept the challenge that comes your way, the fact that you fight to improve and find solutions every day, and I succeeded. You always have to work hard, intelligently and have the right attitude, always a positive attitude.»
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