Stefanos Tsitsipas makes classy response about tough Rafael Nadal loss
The 2nd seed Stefanos Tsitsipas made a winning start in Barcelona, beating Pedro Cachin 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 18 minutes. Stefanos never faced a break point and converted all three on the return to control the scoreboard and advance into the last 16.
Asked about that terrible loss to Rafael Nadal two years ago, Tsitsipas responded that he could not think about the past and change the outcome, focusing on what is ahead. Nadal and Tsitsipas met in the 2021 Barcelona Open final and made it a thrilling one.
The Spaniard prevailed 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in three hours and 38 minutes after fending off a match point in the decider’s tenth game. Rafa survived and grabbed the last three games to remain perfect in the Barcelona Open finals and lift his 12th trophy.
It was Nadal’s first ATP title since Roland Garros 2020, and he had to give his everything to overpower an in-form rival and the Monte Carlo champion. Tsitsipas barely won a couple of games against Nadal in the Barcelona Open final three years earlier.
He had improved his clay-court game by a mile before facing the Spaniard again in the title match. Shifting the form from Monte Carlo to Barcelona, the Greek reached the final without losing a set and stood a point away from toppling the king of clay on the court that carries his name.
Stefanos Tsitsipas only wants to look ahead.
For Nadal, this title could not come at a better moment. He missed two months following an epic failure against Stefanos in Melbourne and suffered an early Monte Carlo exit to Andrey Rublev.
Staying composed while playing against a match point at 4-5 in the decider, Nadal survived that rally and gathered a massive boost to rattle off the last three games and deliver one of the most thrilling victories of his career.
Tsitsipas hailed Nadal after the match and called him a real competitor who hates losing more than any other player on the Tour. “I can not change what happened here in previous years. All I can do is move on with my life and tennis.
I…
Source : tennisworldusa
