Stefanos Tsitsipas on facing Rafael Nadal in 2018: ‘It was tough’

In April, Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed the primary Masters 1000 title in Monter Carlo after defeating Andrey Rublev within the title conflict. Per week later, the Greek was among the many gamers to beat once more in Barcelona, reaching the ultimate and shedding it to Rafael Nadal after losing a match level in a three-hour and 38 minutes marathon!

Forward of Barcelona, Tsitsipas spoke about his first notable marketing campaign within the Catalan capital when he confronted Nadal within the remaining in 2018, saying it was powerful to cope with a legend and such a grand champion however nonetheless studying loads from that encounter.

Nadal toppled Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1 in 77 minutes for his eleventh Barcelona Open title, matching John McEnroe on 77 ATP titles and profitable the 401 ATP match on clay from 436 encounters! It was the primary ATP remaining for the younger Greek, who wasted all three break alternatives and suffered 5 breaks to push Nadal excessive and end runner-up.

Proficient Stefanos performed on a excessive stage for your entire week, beating 4 seeds and coming into the ultimate with out dropping a set. Nonetheless, that wasn’t sufficient towards Rafa, who managed the tempo from the baseline and overpowered his rival within the exchanges to win his second title in a row after Monte Carlo seven days in the past.

Nadal landed 71% of the primary serve and repelled all three break factors within the second set’s fourth recreation when he was already 6-2, 3-0 in entrance.

Stefanos Tsitsipas spoke concerning the 2018 Barcelona remaining towards Rafael Nadal.

The stress was on Tsitsipas, who gave away 56% of the factors behind the preliminary shot and confronted ten break probabilities.

He discovered it arduous to defend his second serve, profitable three out of 19 factors and permitting Rafa to race over the end line with 5 breaks on his tally. Each gamers had extra errors than winners, however Nadal tamed his photographs extra effectively to regulate the scoreboard and declare his most convincing triumph in all 12 Barcelona finals.

“I performed within the remaining right here in Barcelona in 2018, after I was solely starting my ATP journey. Going through Rafael Nadal wasn’t simple, and I realized loads from that match. Rafa has gained quite a few Barcelona titles, and it is inspiring for everybody,” Stefanos Tsitsipas stated.