Rafael Nadal saved a championship level to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-5 on Sunday and declare a 12th Barcelona Open title in the ATP’s longest match of 2021. The Spaniard secured his first title of the yr and 87th of his profession, denying Tsitsipas back-to-back triumphs following his maiden Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo final week. Nadal avenged his Australian Open quarter-final loss to Tsitsipas and can return to second in the ATP rankings on Monday by climbing again above Daniil Medvedev after his marathon 3-hour 38-minute win.
Second seed Tsitsipas, a Roland Garros semi-finalist in 2020, had gained all 17 units on clay this season and entered the ultimate unbeaten on the floor in 9 matches.
The Greek constructed up a 4-2 lead in the opening set after breaking Nadal in the third sport however dropped his serve twice in succession because the 20-time Grand Slam champion hit again to win 4 video games in a row.
Fifth-ranked Tsitsipas, who gained simply three video games when the pair met in the 2018 closing right here, once more procured an early break in set two however Nadal responded to haul himself degree at 3-all.
Nadal did not convert two match factors as Tsitsipas clung on to carry when trailing 5-4, with the Spaniard saving three break factors in the very subsequent sport.
Nadal took a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak however the momentum swung again in the direction of Tsitsipas as he gained 4 straight factors, blowing two set factors earlier than forcing a decider on the third try after a double fault from his opponent.
In sharp distinction, the third set went on serve and not using a single break alternative till Tsitsipas edged to inside a degree of the title with Nadal on the ropes serving at 4-5.
Nadal survived although and eventually transformed his fourth break probability in the next sport, snuffing out a Tsitsipas break level in the ultimate sport earlier than clinching his 61st clay-court title.
His 12 Barcelona victories are second solely to his 13 Roland Garros trophies.
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