Rafel Nadal rises to the occasion once again; This time in Barcelona

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Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal shaking hands

April 26, 2021

Rafael Nadal has once again proven his mettle on the courts. Having won an incredible 12th Barcelona Open title, local fans should indeed be quite proud.

This is also great news in terms of things at least beginning as if they are returning to some form of normalcy after the recent global health crisis.

Let’s take a quick look at what occurred during the match itself in order to fully appreciate why Nadal still remains such a force to be reckoned with.

A Decidedly Dismal Start

Nadal fans were not altogether happy with his performance during the first set, as he was trailing 4-2 against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. Some were even wondering whether Tsitsipas would rout the world-renowned player.

When we also take into account that Nadal had only lost one set in his last eleven Barcelona Open competitions, we have to wonder what might have been going through his head.

The Comeback Kid

Still, Nadal began to pile on the pressure during the following two sets. Although Tsitsipas seemed to have an upper hand, Nadal gained a much-needed break point in order to begin turning the tide.

It should nonetheless be mentioned that Tsitsipas was a formidable opponent, as he applied continuous pressure well into the third set. It was still a somewhat foregone conclusion that Nadal would eventually emerge victorious.

The final tennis live score for this neck-and-neck competition stood at 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 in favour of Nadal.

A Much-Needed Boost for Morale

Rafael Nadal is pleased

Barcelona certainly welcomed the win, as the entire city has still been reeling from the effects of lockdown measures which have been in place for well over one year. As Nadal was always a fan favourite, it should come as no great surprise that he was ecstatic with the victory.

He went on to say that this particular win meant a great deal, as he had been training vigorously for the match. Let’s also remember that he played for a total of three hours and 38 minutes; an impressive feat for a player who is now 34 years old.

What is perhaps even more notable is that both players are highly respected in their own rights. This is one of the reasons why the match was impossible to call; particularly during the last half of the third and final set.

Where Will Nadal Go from Here?

This seems to be the question that all fans are asking. Of course, it only makes sense that he has his eye on yet more upcoming competitions. Assuming that live games can be played to limited crowds, we should fully expect to see great things from this amazing player in the coming months.

Barcelona residents (and Spain as a whole) are understandably proud of his recent performance, as it featured as front-page news on the majority of national newspapers. Assuming that Nadal’s momentum continues in the same trajectory, there is no reason why he should not place in the top of his class for some time to come.