Rafael Nadal won the Barcelona Open for a record-breaking 10th time with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat Dominic Thiem on Sunday afternoon.
Rafa took a while to impose himself on Thiem on an overcast day in Barcelona with the cold weather slowing down the court. Thiem earned the first breakpoint of the match but Rafa recovered and eventually took the first set by breaking his opponent in the 10th game. There was no let-up in the second set from Rafa, who broke the 23-year-old Austrian twice in a row before serving for the championship.
It was Rafa’s 51st tournament title on clay and 71st career trophy overall.
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their singles final match at the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Rafael Nadal of Spain prepares to serve to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their singles final match at the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem during the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their singles final match at the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Dominic Thiem of Austria during their singles final match at the Barcelona Open Tennis Tournament in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates with his trophy after winning Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates with his trophy after winning Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Getty Images
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal poses with his trophy as he celebrates after winning Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal poses with his trophy as he celebrates after winning Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem at the end of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament final in Barcelona on April 30, 2017..Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Getty Images
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal runs for a dive in the swimming pool flanked by ballboys after defeating Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem in the final of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament in Barcelona on April 30, 2017. .Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal runs for a dive in the swimming pool flanked by ballboys after defeating Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem in the final of the ATP Barcelona Open “Conde de Godo” tennis tournament in Barcelona on April 30, 2017. .Nadal won 6-4, 6-1. / AFP PHOTO / Josep LAGO (April 29, 2017 – Source: AFP)
Rafael Nadal of Spain dives in the swimming pool with ballboys after his victory 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. (April 29, 2017 – Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain dives in the swimming pool with ballboys after his victory 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. (April 29, 2017 – Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain dives in the swimming pool with ballboys after his victory 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. (April 29, 2017 – Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain dives in the swimming pool with ballboys after his victory 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. (April 29, 2017 – Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)
Rafael Nadal of Spain dives in the swimming pool with ballboys after his victory 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. (April 29, 2017 – Source: Alex Caparros/Getty Images Europe)
Source: Reuters
well done rafa,great match vamos rafa glennis from the lsle of man.
10 times you´ve got Barcelona´s Title. ¡¡Congratulation Rafa!! you are Enormous Great. From The Canaries with much pleasure to you. C. Javier
Thank you, Rafa, for giving the tennis fans the joy of watching exceptional sports talent and athleticism with the courage of a gallant warrior! And thank you for giving us, your loyal fans, the happiness every time we see you play and victorious despite the odds and obstacles you have to surmount.
Thank you to all my fellow Rafa fans all over the world, for not giving up, for continuously believing, for the well wishes to Rafa, and for supporting and inspiring one another.
Thank you for this fan website, for keeping us together, in one spirit, for the love of Rafa.