Expert picks are back for Sunday’s Barcelona final between Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas. A three-team panel chooses between the 11-time Barcelona champion and last week’s Monte-Carlo Masters winner.
Ricky: In recent years, Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem have been the biggest challengers to Rafael Nadal on clay. It looks like Stefanos Tsitsipas could hold that distinction in 2021 (yes, I know Andrey Rublev beat Nadal in Monte-Carlo, but Tsitsipas is more dangerous long term on this surface than the Russian). With the Greek coming off a title in Monte-Carlo and four more straight-set wins this week, another Barcelona title for Nadal is not a foregone conclusion. Normally it is, of course. That being said, the King of Clay probably has the edge. He has raised his level over the last two matches, thus gaining confidence just in time for Sunday. Tsitsipas may have beaten Nadal at the Australian Open, but that required five sets on a surface that doesn’t favor the Spaniard. Nadal still leads the head-to-head series 6-2. Despite Tsitsipas’ current form, picking against Nadal on clay is not something I’m prepared to do quite yet. Nadal in 3: 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Cheryl: Usually selecting a winner in a Nadal match on clay is a no-brainer, which is to say that picking against the Spaniard is an outrageous decision. Not so this week (or last). Nadal is rusty; like really rusty. He even managed to make what should have been a shellacking of Pablo Carreno Busta in the semis more complicated than it should have been. And his Sunday opponent is absolutely tearing it up on European clay. Tsitsipas hasn’t so much as dropped a set since he set foot on the dirt. And then there’s the five-setter that Tsitispas won over Nadal in Melbourne from two sets down. Nope, there’s nothing easy about this pick. Tsitsipas is the in-form player on clay so far this year…and he just beat Nadal at the AO.
At the same time, Nadal is playing on a court that literally bears his name. The crowd is going to be frantic for him to win, and…well…it is Nadal on clay–rust or not. That is really all there is to it. As I’ve said many times before, I just can’t pick against him on the dirt. Nadal in 3: 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.
Pete (Tennis Acumen): Tsitsipas enters the Barcelona final on a 17-set winning streak. Only four times during this run has he lost more than three games in any set. Meanwhile, Nadal has won Barcelona 11 times and is undefeated in finals at this tournament. Ironically, though, the Spaniard has lost four sets in the last 13 he has played: two in Monte-Carlo vs. Rublev and one each to Ivashka and Nishikori this week in Barcelona. Surprisingly, both players have struggled in matches against top 10 competition in 2021. Nadal is 0-2, including a loss to Tsitsipas at the Australian Open; the Greek is 2-3. Despite uncharacteristically losing sets at venues where he has won convincingly won 11 titles (also in Monte-Carlo), Nadal has corrected course in his last two matches in Barcelona and will enter the final with confidence restored. That factor alone will be enough to make it an even dozen in capital of Catalonia, as well as a return to world No. 2. Nadal in 2: 6-4 7-5.
He needs to dictate terms against Nadal.
Great tennis. Rafa saves it and makes it even in the TB 6-6
Rafa in tb is almost a given to guck it up.. the tb bug has caught him on clay too now
Cant see a 35 year old hanging with a 22 year old in a third set now
Every time Tsitsipas dictated terms he went up a break and was in control of the match but Nadal has an uncanny ability at wrestling control without the opponent realizing it.
That will be a key learning experience for Tsitsipas as the changing of the guard occurs.
Oh go away!
Lol
You’re a moron.
You love it
Also serving second now☹️
Rafa did it to himself, didn’t he? So many chances to win. I feel like Rafa will still win, even so.
Turned the sound off.
Rafa used to be great at tie breaks. But in the last few years he often loses them frequently from a winning position or making bizarre errors.
It’s mental really. Think it started in 2015.
As I said before, I only really care about RG.
2015 was the year he was not himself wasn’t it?
He is not at all at his 2015 level.
And he holds to love. Serving the second for the deciding set does suck.
Had a feeling Karatsev v Berettini would be a tight 3 setter.
Can’t argue with feelings nostranonymous.
You got him now Tsitsi!
But one good thing is rafa has had a chance to measure himself against the best player on clay this year.. will be interesting to track whose half tsitsi falls into at the clay tourneys this year
Anyone heard if Dominic Thiem will be back by Rome or Rg?
He is back for Rome.
To put it another way.
Tsitsi is 13 years younger than Rafa and in top form while Rafa is well below par having scarcely played because of his back.
Tsitsi ought to win.
🦚 The annoying Peacock walk is back.
Yes of course!
Glad I can’t see it!
I did say I thought the Peacock would win today..
Read that rafa just lost his 9th consecutive tb to a top 10 player.. that is atrocious for a player of rafas mental fortitude
It’s mental!
He loses even when up on the score.
Here we go again, amy. Break chance for Rafa.
And Rafa makes it. Rafa will serve for the match after this commercial.
What could possibly go wrong!😨😨
I am half dead!
I’m in pain, amy. Have to go tend to my lungs.
Very Happy, though.
Take care of yourself darling!
Matchpoint again.
Rada Wins!
Crowd going nuts. He did it again, Rafa.
I felt he would!!
Rafa gets nervous in TBs for some reason.
Rafas return has gotten worse as the match has progressed
Moment of truth has arrived.. just hope rafa does not meekly drop serve while staying to serve in the match
Rafa is the mentally weaker player today:( bothced two easy shots
So no matter who the loser is they would have lost from a match point up
Tsitsi is a beast on bps.. i remember the time he beat roger at the ao.. did the same
Rafa is lacking g fitness. So win or lose it’s good he is playing these 3 setters and is out on court a lot.
He will get physically fitter.
Rafa for f sake please finish it here.. your tb record is a joke
Rafa you bugger… is this the way you treat your fans
What’s happened??
Took us on an emotional roller coaster.. saved a mp.. then broke back in a long drawn game and then faced a break back point from 30-0 up then went a break up with somw scintillating forehands and somehow won
Haha! Classic Rafa!
He wants to kill us off!😀
How the hell did he win that😲 back to no.2
Yessss!
Thanks for all the updates dear Elizabeth!!😀😀
Where is nny???