BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 30: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Dominic Thiem of Austria in their final match on day seven of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on April 30, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.
Rafael Nadal, the World No. 3, defeated fourth-ranked Austrian Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-1 to capture his record-tying tenth Barcelona Open title on Sunday, and the Spaniard celebrated with a big splash — literally.
Nadal, 30, leaped into a swimming pool in the Catalan city with the ball kids of the tournament while photographers on the others side repeatedly snapped pictures.
“Celebrating one of the traditions of the #Godó!” tennis star tweeted in a video of his jump, referring to the alternative name of the trophy awarded to the winner of the Barcelona Open, the Trofeo Conde de Godó. “Very happy with the victory!”
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Nadal’s triumph Sunday marked his 51st overall on clay. The 14-time Grand Slam champion claimed another tenth trophy, the Monte Carlo Masters, the previous weekend and next hopes to win his tenth Roland Garros title. The French Open begins May 22.
Amazingly enough, Nadal did not lose a single set this week, and has won 20 of 21 sets thus far on the Barcelona court.
ATP Tennis TV shared this amazing rally between Nadal and Thiem in the first set on Sunday, a point the 23-year-old Austrian ultimately won:
Thiem, who defeated Andy Murray in three sets on Saturday, said he realized what one of his main mistakes against Nadal was.
“He was hitting to my backhand and I couldn’t come out of it,” Thiem said. “The next time I play him I have to change something.”
Nadal could win this year’s French Open, but it will likely be a struggle for him. He could defeat longtime rival Roger Federer, who won their last match on clay in 2016, since the Swiss is missing every tournament until then in order to finish recovering from injuries.
However, the Spaniard will also probably face reigning Roland Garros champion Novak Djokovic. Nadal has lost his previous seven matches to the top-ranked Serb, including three on clay, dating back to the 2014 French Open. In those seven matches, Nadal has been unable to win a set.
BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Dominic Thiem of Austria in their final match on day seven of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on April 30, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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