Nextu week, the 12-time Barcelona Open champion Rafael Nadal will not compete in front of the home fans. Rafa experienced a rib fracture during the Indian Wells final run and will miss the event where the center court carries his name. Rafa will miss one of his favorite tournaments for the first time since 2010 and lose 500 points claimed in that memorable title match against Stefanos Tsitsipas last April. Nadal is 20-1 in 2022, making the best start of the season in his career and winning three out of four tournaments. Rafa conquered Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco before reaching the title clash in Indian Wells.
Seeking the 37th Masters 1000 crown, Nadal lost to Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-6, wasting his chances in the second set and struggling to hit or move appropriately due to rib issues. The Spaniard had to prolong the start of his beloved clay season, withdrawing from Monte Carlo and Barcelona and hoping to compete again in Madrid. Nadal has won 66 out of 70 matches in Barcelona since debuting in 2003 at 16. Rafa was victorious in his first Barcelona match before losing to Alex Corretja in three sets. Between 2005 and 2013, Nadal claimed eight consecutive Barcelona titles to become the tournament’s most distinguished player. Rafa lost the ground a bit in 2014 and 2015, falling to Nicolas Almagro and Fabio Fognini and failing to reach the semis.
Rafael Nadal will skip Barcelona Open for the first time since 2010.
The Spaniard bounced back in style in 2016 to claim three consecutive titles without losing a set. Dominic Thiem ended Nadal’s streak in the semi-final in 2019, prevailing 6-4, 6-4 in just over two hours to deny the Spaniard’s 12th trophy at home. Barcelona closed its gates in 2020 due to the pandemic, and Nadal returned to the court that carries his name last April. After a slower start against Ilya Ivashka and Kei Nishikori, Rafa ousted Cameron Norrie and Pablo Carreno Busta to advance into the 12th Barcelona final.
In one of the season’s most thrilling matches, Nadal overpowered the Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in three hours and 37 minutes. It was the most extended best-of-three ATP final since the start of the ATP Tour in 1990, and the home favorite saved a match point in the third set’s tenth game to remain perfect in the Barcelona finals. Rafa defended ten out of 12 break chances and produced four breaks to secure the season’s first title. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner should be the top seeds in Barcelona.