“Result of the Passion”: Rafael Nadal Reflects on his Win at Barcelona Open 2021 Finals

Rafael Nadal has shared his thoughts on the stupendous comeback win that saw him lift a record 12th Barcelona Open title this year.

Speaking to reporters before launching his campaign at the Madrid Open, the current World No. 2 said that it was a battle against a tough opponent in Stefanos Tsitsipas and he was happy to come out on the winning side of the slugfest that spanned almost three-and-a-half hours.

Rafael Nadal says his mental strength took him to the Barcelona title

Nadal said that he hadn’t played much tennis barring the Australian Open and that explained his struggles to find his bearings on clay at Monte-Carlo. Reflecting on the Barcelona final, Nadal said, “It was a match of 2, 3 hours (and) 40 minutes against a good opponent. I didn’t play much tennis for one year, I lost in Monte-Carlo, I suffered at the beginning of this (Barcelona Open) tournament.”

He added that though he struggled to find his best claycourt game, it was his mental strength that carried him to the title in Catalunya. “I worked hard, I think, mentally to keep going and I won an important event for me,” the Spaniard said on his win against Tsitsipas.

Nadal says winning the final against Stefanos Tsitsipas an important moment

Rafa added that for some who picks his events these days and has played only three tournaments this year and barely any last season, the win in a tournament final, and that too before the adoring home crowd, did come as a huge boost.

“(It) has been an important moment for me and in some way where you’re not playing that often, was only my third event of the year and last year I didn’t play much, so the feeling to win again and win a match like this is always positive,” Nadal said.

The Spaniard recovered from a break to win the opening set in the Barcelona final but lost the second set tie-break to bring the Monte-Carlo champion back into the contest.

However, surviving some anxious moments that included facing a championship point, the 13-time French Open champion scraped home to lift the title.

“I live my tennis career with passion and that’s the result of the passion when you win a match like this,” the Spaniard said.

It was a triumph of spirit more than it was of skill for Nadal as even his uncle and longtime former coach Toni pointed out that neither player was at his best on the day and yet the match provided plenty in the way of excitement.

Read More: “Not a Great Game”: Toni Nadal Says Neither Rafael Nadal Nor Stefanos Tsitsipas Played Well in Barcelona Final