Rafael Nadal outlasts Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-7(6) 7-5 in the final in Barcelona on Sunday after winning a huge battle. The epic lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes. Nadal saved a match point in the 3rd set. After Tsitsipas saved 2 consecutive match points in the 2nd. This is the 12 times that Nadal wins the tournament. Here you can see when his history at this event.
Nadal added € 67,385 to his prize money after conquering this final. He has earned € 178,985 in total after conquering this tournament.
Nadal was pleased about the match. He commented:
“It is important for me. It is important for my confidence. It is important for the title, by itself. It is an important title in my career, achieving another ATP 500 {title] and, additionally, one of the best ATP 500s in the history of our sport with a big tradition in Barcelona. It is great.”
Highlights Rafael Nadal vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell – Barcelona
Stats: aces, double faults, breaks, winners
3h:38
At the end of the match, Nadal scored 123 points vs. the Greek’s 119.
Nadal
Rafael won this match even if he was struggling to find the solution in converting his break points as he converted only 33% (4/12) of the procured opportunities.
Tsitsipas
On the other side, Tsitsipas was battling in converting his break points (only 15% – 2/13). That was one of the key issues for his loss.
After this encounter, the head to head between Nadal and Tsitsipas is 7-2 for Rafael.
This was the 87th career title for the Spaniard. (see list of the title). The Greek remains with 6th titles. (see list of the title)
Live score progression and stats
Rafael clinched the set after recovering from 1 break down. In fact, after conceding his serve in the 3rd (1-2) game, Rafael broke back in the 8th (4-4) and in the 10th game to win the set 6-4.
The Greek was outplayed in the last 4 games of the set when the game count went from 2-4 to 6-4.
Rafael converted 66% of his break points (2/3). He had 3 break points opportunities in the 8th (3-4 15-40 and 30-40) and the 10th game (5-4 15-40). Moreover, on the other side, Stefanos converted 16% of his break points (1/6). He had his opportunities in the 3rd (1-1 0-40), the 5th (3-1 40-A and 40-A) and the 9th game (4-4 15-40, 30-40 and 40-A).
They played 68 points. The set was a huge battle since finally Nadal won just 2 points more than Tsitsipas (35-33). Rafael lost 17 points on serve (23-17). on the other side of the net, Tsitsipas conceded 12 points on serve (16-12).
The Greek won the set after he broke the Spaniard in the 3rd (2-1) game. Rafael tried to stage a comeback breaking in the 6th (3-3) game. Yet, the Greek stayed solid to finally clinch the set at the following breaker at 6.
Tsitsipas wasted a good opportunity to break Rafael in the 11th game when he had 3 consecutive chances (0-40).
Tiebreak
The Greek won 5 minibreaks in the 4th (2-2), 8th (4-4), 9th (5-4), 13th (7-6) and 14th (8-6) point. On the other side, Rafael won 3 minibreaks in the 1st (1-0), 6th (4-2) and 11th (5-6) point.
This was the tiebreak sequence: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, 7-6, 8-6
Stefanos converted 20% of his break points (1/5). He had 5 break points opportunities in the 3rd (1-1 15-40 and 30-40) and the 11th game (5-5 0-40, 15-40 and 30-40). Furthermore, on the other side, the Spaniard converted 20% of his break points (1/5). He had his opportunities in the 6th (2-3 30-40, 40-A and 40-A) and the 10th game (5-4 15-40 and 30-40).
They played 90 points. The Greek was the winner of the set after clinching 4 more points than the Spaniard (47-43). Tsitsipas surrendered 17 points on serve (28-17). On the losing side, Rafael conceded 19 points on serve (26-19).
Both players managed to hold their serve for the entire set. The only difference was just 1 break that the Spaniard clinched in the 11th game (6-5) prior to eventually conquering the set (7-5).
Nadal converted 33% of his break points (1/3). He had 3 break points opportunities in the 11th game (5-5 15-40, 30-40 and 40-A). On the other side, Tsitsipas was unable to convert any of his 2 break points. He had 2 break points opportunities in the 10th (5-4 30-40) and the 12th game (5-6 30-40).
They played 82 points. Rafael was the one to win the set after conquering 6 points more than Tsitsipas (44-38). Rafael lost 10 points on serve (28-10). In addition, on the other side, Tsitsipas conceded 16 points on serve (28-16).
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