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Spaniard concedes just three games en route to Barcelona crown
Can anyone stop Rafael Nadal?

Another week, another clay-court crown for the World No. 1. Nadal stormed to a staggering 11th title at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell on Sunday, dismissing Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1.

Not even an early rain shower could stop the scintillating Spaniard, who extended his win streak on clay to 19 straight and sets-won streak on the surface to 46 in a row. It marks the second straight week in which he has completed an 'undécima', hoisting an 11th trophy at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters before replicating the feat at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.

"I'm very happy for the victory against a very difficult opponent," said Nadal. "Tsitsipas has an amazing future. It was a great final for me and the 11th title here means a lot. I enjoyed the whole week and had great support from the crowd.

"It's very difficult to describe how to win 11 titles at one tournament. To win 11 Monte-Carlos and 11 Barcelonas is something I couldn't imagine doing. I'm just enjoying every week and the fact I'm playing in a tournament that I enjoy so much means a lot to me.

One day after joining the '400 Wins Club' on clay, Nadal hit yet another milestone. The Manacor native pulled level with John McEnroe for fourth place on the Open Era titles list with his 77th crown. Only Jimmy Connors, Roger Federer and Ivan Lendl remain ahead of Nadal.


It was a soggy and breezy late afternoon in the Spanish metropolis, as Nadal began his quest for the title in threatening conditions. On multiple occasions, play was halted as raindrops pelted the clay on Pista Rafa Nadal. But Nadal's focus did not waver, maintaining his steely resolve to snatch an early break to love for 2-1.

Nadal used the heavier conditions to his advantage, as Tsitsipas struggled to respond to the weight of shots coming off the Spaniard's racquet. He had no reply to Nadal's forehand, which dictated rallies with masterful authority and command. The top seed's athletic prowess was on full display as well, striking a twirling over-the-shoulder volley winner to secure a 5-1 lead.

A wayward forehand from Tsitsipas would give Nadal an opening break in the second set and there was no looking back. The World No. 1 reigned in Barcelona for an 11th time as the teenager struck a backhand into the net. Nadal fired nine winners and benefitted from 23 unforced errors to prevail after 77 minutes.

Open Era Title Leaders

Player Open Era Titles
(1) Jimmy Connors 109
(2) Roger Federer 97
(3) Ivan Lendl 94
(T-4) Rafael Nadal
77
(T-4) John McEnroe 77
Nadal improved to a perfect 11-0 in finals at the Trofeo Conde de Godó, completing his third three-peat at the ATP World Tour 500 event. He had won five times in a row from 2005-09, on three straight occasions from 2011-13 and once again from 2016-18.

Moreover, the World No. 1 extended his stay atop the ATP Rankings for a 172nd week, earning 500 points and €501,700 in prize money. A loss in Barcelona would have dropped him to No. 2, behind Roger Federer.

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In the biggest match of his young career, Tsitsipas can only grow from the experience. Despite the loss, the #NextGenATP Greek solidified himself as a contender in the ATP Race To Milan with a quartet of signature wins during the week. He would stun Diego Schwartzman, past champion Dominic Thiem and home hopes Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Pablo Carreno Busta, all in straight sets, to reach his first ATP World Tour final.

The youngest finalist in Barcelona since an 18-year-old Nadal in 2005, Tsitsipas was also the first Greek man to reach an ATP World Tour title match since Nicholas Kalogeropoulos in Des Moines, Iowa in 1973. He emerges with 300 ATP Rankings points and €245,940 in prize money, soaring 19 spots to a career-high No. 44.

"I knew the chances to win were small, but my confidence was rising in every match and while I was expecting a little better today, congratulations to Rafa," Tsitsipas said. "It was a first experience and tougher than I thought. I've watched him millions of times on TV, but it's tougher to face him in reality.

"You need to be patient and do everything right, but I was in a rush and head a mess in my head. I was trying to go for the lines, which was the wrong thing. I had no options. He didn't give me any air to breathe out there. It's something to learn from for sure and I hope to do better against him in the future."

DID YOU KNOW?
Tsitsipas is the fifth player from the #NextGenATP contingent to reach an ATP World Tour final this year, joining Delray Beach winner Frances Tiafoe and finalists Andrey Rublev (Doha), Alex de Minaur (Sydney) and Alexander Zverev (Miami).

Cecchinato is first lucky loser to triumph since Mayer last year in Hamburg
Italian Marco Cecchinato lost in the final round of qualifying in straight sets at the Gazprom Hungarian Open. Yet seven days later, the World No. 92 will leave Hungary as a first-time ATP World Tour champion.

After gaining entry to the main draw in Budapest as a lucky loser, Cecchinato never looked back. And even though he had never reached a tour-level semi-final prior to this week, the Italian defeated Aussie John Millman, another first-time finalist, 7-5, 6-4 on Sunday to claim his maiden trophy.

"I lost Sunday and now I won the tournament. It's amazing for me," Cecchinato said. "Maybe it's a dream, I don't know."

Cecchinato

Cecchinato is the first lucky loser to triumph since Leonardo Mayer won in Hamburg last July. The 25-year-old previously owned just five tour-level wins in his career, but he has doubled that count in Hungary. Cecchinato defeated three of the tournament's eight seeds, including his second victory in as many weeks against World No. 31 Damir Dzumhur.

Having also lifted his fifth ATP Challenger Tour trophy in Santiago, Chile, in March, Cecchinato is the second to prevail on both circuits this year. He joins recent Marrakech champion Pablo Andujar as players to achieve the feat.

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The 250 ATP Rankings points that Cecchinato adds to his total will help him to a projected career-best inside the Top 60 on Monday. The Italian, who also earns €89,345, had previously climbed as high as World No. 82.

"Today is a special day because I won the first title of my career," Cecchinato said. "I'm very happy."

Recent Lucky Loser Champions

Player Year Tournament
Andrey Rublev 2017 Umag
Leonardo Mayer 2017 Hamburg
Marco Cecchinato 2018 Budapest
And while the result was a straight-sets victory, the match could have gone either way. The Italian, who had led 4-2 after breaking Millman in his second service game, saved a set point on his serve while trailing 5-4, hitting a gutsy curling overhead smash from behind the baseline that the Aussie was barely able to get his racquet on. Then, with the momentum back in his corner, Cecchinato closed out the set by rocketing a forehand down the line from well off the court.

In the second set, Millman dug in and was able to gain a 4-1 lead. Despite doing a large majority of the defending in the match, the 28-year-old's efforts began to show cracks in the Italian's aggression. But the attacking Cecchinato found his range, winning the final five games of the match and falling to the court on his back in celebration after his final forehand dribbled over the net cord.

Despite the loss, it was a strong week for Millman, who advanced to the final earlier Sunday by winning the final set of a 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(5) triumph against 2017 runner-up Aljaz Bedene, after the match was suspended due to darkness Saturday evening. For his first tour-level final, the Aussie captures 150 ATP Rankings points and €47,105.

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Millman, projected to climb from World No. 94 inside the Top 70, has shown good form in recent months after dealing with injury at the beginning of 2017. He won an ATP Challenger Tour title in Hua Hin, Thailand, last November and another in Kyoto, Japan earlier this year.

Did You Know?
Marco Cecchinato arrived in Budapest with one tour-level victory, which came at last week's Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters against Damir Dzumhur. He then defeated the second-seeded Dzumhur again in the first round in Budapest, and then went on to win four more matches to claim the title. He is now 6-6 at tour-level this season.