Rafa Seeking Another 'Unforgettable Moment' In Barcelona
'Tis the season for Rafael Nadal, when the Spaniard is all smiles and the tennis world quickly runs out of adjectives. A day after winning his 11th Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title, the World No. 1 had made his way to Barcelona, where he'll go for title No. 11 at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, an ATP World Tour 500 tournament.
The event has a special “home” feeling for Nadal. He grew up in Mallorca, a Spanish island about an hour's flight from Barcelona, and last year at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona-1899, officials named the main show court after Nadal, Pista Rafa Nadal.
The Spaniard is 53-3 in Barcelona and has won eight of his 10 titles without dropping a set, including 2016-17.
Watch: Nadal Remembers 'Unforgettable Moment' In Barcelona
“It was fantastic. It was an unforgettable moment,” Nadal said of winning his 10th title.
“It's a tournament that I know very well. I feel a little bit like home, even if my home is Mallorca, I am from this club and I enjoy the fact that I can play here in front of my people.
“This part of the season, all the events are so special for me, so I really enjoy playing every week and this week is not an exception. Now having two weeks at home, Barcelona and then [the Mutua Madrid Open, starting 6 May], it's a special two weeks back-to-back.”
Nadal is the top seed in a crowded Barcelona draw that includes three Top 10 players in Grigor Dimitrov, Dominic Thiem and David Goffin. Monte-Carlo finalist Kei Nishikori, a two-time Barcelona champion (2014-15), and former No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who accepted a wild card last week, will also compete in the Spanish metropolis.
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Nadal could face Nishikori in the third round, the sixth-seeded Djokovic in the quarter-finals and Goffin, the fourth seed, in the semi-finals. A rematch with Thiem or Dimitrov would have to wait until the final.
Last year, Thiem was the only player to beat Nadal on clay, but the Spaniard again avenged that loss last week in Monte-Carlo, advancing 6-0, 6-2 in the quarter-finals.
The next round, Nadal dismissed Dimitrov 6-4, 6-1 before beating Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 in the final. Nadal has won a career-best 36 consecutive sets on clay.
“Very happy about what happened last week of course. It was a great week,” Nadal said.
The 31-year-old left-hander needs to win his 11th title in Barcelona to remain No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, or else Swiss Roger Federer will take over. But Nadal said holding onto the top ranking isn't any extra motivation for him this week.
“For me the extra motivation is just playing the tournaments that I am playing,” Nadal said. “Monte-Carlo, for me is like a love story and here, almost the same. My real motivation is just play, Monte-Carlo last week and now play Barcelona. That's a tournament that I have had a lot of success and I really feel the passion for playing.”