Rafael Nadal has killed tennis in just two weeks.

By winning his 11th Barcelona Open, Rafael Nadal has made tennis almost unwatchable. In just a fortnight, Nadal’s dominance has eliminated any suspense in his 19th straight victory on clay.

A free tennis lesson

The 6-2,6-1 Barcelona victory over Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas was summed upped perfectly by Tsitsipas when he earlier had stated that playing Nadal would be like “receiving a free tennis lesson.”

Unfortunately, fans don’t tune in to see “tennis lessons.” Watching Nadal roll to 401 wins on clay is a marvel because of his superb skill, but not much of a competitive contest that is the appeal of sports.

During this streak of 46 straight sets on clay, no opponent has won even five games in any one set with the exception of Martin Klizan. Nadal has been given all the players; even top ten ranked stars, “tennis lessons.”

Rafa’s impossible run in Barcelona and Monte Carlo

 

 

 

Too good for anyone?

Rafael has secured his number one ranking as Roger Federer stays out of the clay court season. No other player is even thought of as a challenge to the Spaniard. Tennis announcers are running out of praises for Nadal whose play was actually being questioned before this two-week run.

No Federer, Novak Djokovic on the ropes and Andy Murray being out of the picture, Nadal will cruise through the rest of the clay season up to and through the French Open. If anyone beats Nadal on clay, it will truly be an incredible upset.

There is the sports axiom of “Anyone can beat anyone on a given day” and Nadal is subject to injuries, but Nadal is barely on court as most of his wins are less than an hour and a half. His socks are barely getting dirty.

It is a marvel to witness Nadal increase his tennis legend. However, tennis fans enjoy more of a contest, and maybe someone will beat Nadal on clay. Besides the fans in the stands, will anyone see it?


JUST TOO GOOD     
                                 
Embed from Getty Images