The reappearance of Rafael Nadal on the court, after the injury he suffered in his quarter-final defeat in Brisbane some time ago 102 days. With his return to Barcelona, the expectations created about what can be expected from the Balearic Islands concern the entire tennis world, which is looking forward to a new match from the former number one.
Tsitsipasbrand new champion of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 and, fifth seed of the Barcelona tournament, analyzed after winning the final against Casper Ruud what Nadal’s return to the circuit means.
“We know that Rafa, regardless of whether he has played a lot lately or if it is his first tournament, is able to quickly adjust his tennis to clay“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rafa in the final in Barcelona, it’s something he’s been doing for years and years,” confesses the Greek. He, in turn, knows what it is like to be left at the gates of the Catalan title, having reached the final of the tournament three times and having lost two consecutive years to Nadal himself (2018 and 2021) and last year to Carlos Alcaraz.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rafa in the Barcelona final, it’s something he’s been doing for years and years.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipaswhich returns to seventh place in the rankinganalyzes what it means to play against Rafa on clay: “He has that competitiveness and that integrity at the tennis level that, When he enters “his zone”, from the outside he seems unbeatable. On the court, things are different: you have the feel of the ball. When you see him, you have a visual sensation, but on the court I have all six senses activated and ready when it comes to facing him.” In fact, both tennis players They could face each other in Barcelona in a hypothetical quarterfinalboth being at the top of the tournament table.
A pending account: the 2021 final
The Greek, who has beaten the Mallorcan up to nine times, has managed to beat him only twice: in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Australian Open and in the semifinals of the 2019 Madrid Masters 1000. “I think it’s the ultimate challenge on clay. “I’m sure he knows how to collect points and prevail in a more economical way than before,” Tsitsipas admitted on Sunday after winning the Mote Carlo championship.
Rafa Nadal, champion of the 2021 Conde de Godó Tournament.
The last time they saw each other was precisely in the final of the Open the Barcelona de 2021, where the man from Manacor beat the Greek in three sets 6-4, 6-7 and 7-5 to lift his twelfth ATP title in Barcelona. The last game that the Spaniard played on the clay of Barcelona.
2024-04-15 14:14:47
#Nadal #challenge #clay
