Rafael Nadal Plays Down Expectations After Barcelona Win - UBITENNIS

Rafael Nadal Plays Down Expectations After Barcelona Win

By Adam Addicott
3 Min Read

Rafael Nadal believes it would be ‘stupidity’ to regard him as a favourite to claim the Barcelona Open title this week after winning his first round match in straight sets. 

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is playing in his first clay-court event since the 2022 French Open after missing the majority of last season due to injury. It is also only the second ATP event of any kind that Nadal has played this year after Brisbane. 

Despite his lack of match play, the Spaniard got off to a solid start on Wednesday with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3, win over Flavio Cobolli. During the match, he dropped serve only once and won 78% of his first service points. Nadal has now recorded 78 consecutive wins over players ranked outside the top 20 on clay. The last time he was beaten by a player outside the top 20 was back in 2016 at the Rio Open. 

Given his credentials, many consider the 37-year-old to be a title contender in Barcelona this week. Recently Stefanos Tsitsipas told reporters that he wouldn’t be surprised if he reached the final this year. Something the king of clay disputes. 

“Today to say that I am favourite I think is stupidity, Tsitsipas knows that it’s not the case,” said Nadal who is a 12-time champion in Barcelona.
“I understand what he says as respect for what I have done in this tournament. Everybody knows I am not favourite to win a tournament.”

Nadal will next play world No.11 Alex de Minaur, who is the highest-ranked player he has faced on the Tour since the 2022 ATP Finals. The Australian has already won 22 matches so far in 2024, claiming a title in Alcapulco. 

“I didn’t have the slightest idea if I was favourite (against Cobolli), I know tomorrow (Thursday) I will not be,” he said.
“But it doesn’t matter, I will go out and play and it will be an experience against a top level player.”

Nadal is bidding to reach the third round in Barcelona for the 16th time in 17 appearances. He holds the tournament record for most match wins (67) and titles won (12). 

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