Rafael Nadal rounds up a perfect Barcelona Open week with numerous records

Rafael Nadal secured the 12th Barcelona Open title on Sunday, prevailing over Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 after three hours and 38 minutes and a match point saved!

Thus, Nadal secured the 12th title in Barcelona, remaining undefeated in the finals at one of his favorite tournaments and delivering the 61st title on clay and 87th overall. Rafa has won at least one ATP title in the previous 18 years, starting from Sopot in 2004 and never losing ground despite numerous injuries and setbacks. The Spaniard is the record holder in that segment, with Novak Djokovic standing two years behind him after winning an ATP crown in 16 consecutive seasons.

Nadal's quarter-final victory over Cameron Norrie was his 450th on clay, becoming the first player in the Open era with that many triumphs on two different surfaces and only the third in the clay 'Club 450' after Guillermo Vilas and Manuel Orantes. To share a few more words about an epic final, it was the longest best-of-three title match on the ATP Tour since 1991, when the ATP started collecting data, and the most extended encounter of the season so far when we exclude the Australian Open.