Emotional Nadal bosses his way to 11th title in Barcelona
World No 1 crushes Tsitsipas, and Pliskova collects silverware in Stuttgart
Rafael Nadal and Karolina Pliskova both emerged clay-court tournament champions yesterday, but their wins came about in contrasting fashions.
For Nadal, it was a breezy straight-sets victory over an up and coming player – Stefanos Tsitsipas. Meanwhile, Pliskova also won in two sets, but she had to fight a lot harder against a more seasoned opponent in CoCo Vandeweghe.
Nadal lifted his 11th Barcelona Open trophy after crushing Greek teenager Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1 in the final.
It was world No 1 Nadal’s 55th career title on clay while he also extended his winning streak on the surface to 46 straight sets.
The 31-year-old Spaniard won his 11th Monte Carlo Masters last weekend also without dropping a set.
Yesterday’s victory reinforced his status as the overwhelming favourite to lift the French Open for an 11th time in June.
Nadal now has 77 titles overall while his career clay-court match record stands at 401 wins against just 35 defeats.
His win was greeted by ticker-tape and a video review of all his titles on the centre court in Barcelona which now bears his name.
“It’s really emotional to see that video. I never dreamed of having a career like this,” the 16-time grand slam title winner said. “Last year, they made a video of my 10 titles here. Now they have had to make another video for 11 – it makes me feel like I am ageing.
“Thanks to everyone for making the tournament so special and to my family who have been with me even when things have not been so smooth.”
Tsitsipas, 19 years old and ranked 63, was the first Greek man to make an ATP final since Nicholas Kalogeropoulos in Des Moines back in 1973. He was also the youngest Barcelona finalist since Nadal in 2005.
“Stefanos, you had an incredible week. You have a great future and I wish you great success,” Nadal said of an opponent who will become just the second teenager in the world top 50 next week after Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
Nadal needed just 77 minutes to claim victory yesterday. After racing through the opening set, he was quickly 3-0 up in the second before Tsitsipas carved out some hope in the fourth game when he had two break points.
They were quickly saved by Nadal who then claimed the title on a third match point in the seventh game when the teenager dumped a one-handed backhand into the net.
Coming back to Pliskova, she won her first title of the year with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over American Vandeweghe in the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
The dominant Czech fifth seed fired 11 aces and wrapped up the match in an hour and 56 minutes to halt Vandeweghe’s fine run in the tournament.
Vandeweghe, 26, beat world No 1 Simona Halep and reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens but could not find a way past Pliskova.
“It’s the best atmosphere to play in Germany,” Pliskova said. “I want to thank my team. I think we had a great week and without them I would not have the trophy.”
Former world No 1 Pliskova trailed 2-0 in the tiebreak at the end of a tight first set but reeled off seven points in a row for an early advantage in the contest.
After Vandeweghe called for the trainer following a tumble early in the second set, Pliskova raised her level and broke her bruised opponent’s serve to go up 3-2.
Pliskova saved a breakpoint in the next game to increase her lead. She then broke Vandeweghe again to make it 5-2 before the American attempted a late fightback with a break of her own.
But Pliskova maintained focus to serve out the match.
Victory in Stuttgart gave world No 6 Pliskova a 10th career title and her first since winning the trophy in Eastbourne last year.
It’s the best atmosphere to play in Germany. I want to thank my team. Without them I would not have the trophy KAROLINA PLISKOVA On winning the Stuttgart Open