the king of clay seems income: Rafael Nadal won on Sunday 24 April in Barcelona, the 49 th title of his career on this surface, equaling the record of Argentine Guillermo Vilas and confirming his return to form to one month’s French Open.
Nadal (No. 5 worldwide) dominated Japanese Kei Nishikori (6) in the final of the ATP 500 tournament with a victory in two sets 6-4, 7-5, 2 hours and 4 minutes. This is the ninth coronation Nadal in Barcelona, where Nishikori was double title.
A week after his coronation in Monte Carlo, the French Open winner ninefold (29) validates his return in the foreground after a 2015 to forget. And he joined Vilas, legend of the 1970s and 1980s, in the pantheon of the best players in history on earth.
This is not the first time that Nadal climbed to the height of Guillermo Vilas. Between 2005 and 2007, he remained unbeaten on clay for 81 matches, more than two years, surpassing Argentina.
deep and powerful Hits
obviously, the tennis Nadal seems to hitting again. And the Spaniard has also regained mental strength to tame Nishikori, who was unbeaten in 14 matches in Barcelona.
“Mentally, I very resilient” Nadal raised the microphone of the Spanish public television TVE. “I was playing against the 6 th global player. If you do not play at very high level in this type of matches, no wins. It is a very difficult player to face. Very often you have control of the game and suddenly you find yourself completely in defense. “
Implacable in the first set, Nadal converted the two break points he obtained while the Japanese did in transforming an eight. We saw former world number one line deep, powerful strokes, whereas too short strokes often peppered his game last year. He won the first set in 50 minutes after passing that struck the band of the net and deceived Nishikori.
The fiftieth Roland?
“ I served very well, it was important. Have a good percentage of first serves, which are strong enough, allowed me to play better “, analyzed Nadal.
Even when the Japanese, in the second set, returned 1-3 to 4-4, Nadal held firm despite several wasted opportunities, a first match point at 5-4. At 6-5, he found a breathless point of a splendid volley and eventually win the match on a direct fault of Nishikori.
Radiant, Nadal knelt on earth Barcelona, then dedicating his victory to his mother, this grandstand which was the anniversary. Rafael Nadal can enjoy: he’s back to his best hope for a tenth coronation aim at the French Open (May 22-June 5). For its 50 th title on clay?
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