Stefanos Tsitsipas says what happened when he faced Rafael Nadal in Barcelona seven years ago which left him in ‘disbelief’

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Rafael Nadal dominated on clay courts during his time as a professional tennis player.

When Nadal retired from tennis in 2024, he did so as one of the greatest players to have ever picked up a racket.

22-times a Major champion, the Spaniard dominated the tour, winning a record-breaking 14 French Open titles.

At the peak of his powers, no-one on the ATP Tour could touch Nadal, especially on the clay, as he won year after year at the world’s biggest tournaments.

Many tried, and many failed, as one former top ten star now recalls how he felt after taking on the legend in the 2018 Barcelona Open final.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says he was in ‘disbelief’ after losing to Rafael Nadal in the 2018 Barcelona Open final

Appearing as a guest on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas looked back upon his encounter with Nadal before their match in Barcelona seven years ago.

“I remember him jumping around and everything,” he said.

“I’m like we’re here in Barcelona playing a final and this is him, he is just running backwards.

“It was probably the moment I had felt the most heavy on a court until that time.

“Seeing him on the other side of the court, the presence was immense, it was huge, I had never felt a presence from a player on the other side of the net, it was really intimidating.

Tsitsipas lost the final, 6-2, 6-1, as the experienced Spaniard swept him aside to win his 11th title in Barcelona.

After the match, the Greek spoke to the Barcelona Open tournament director, who gave him some advice on how to beat Nadal on clay.

“I remember having a chat with [Albert] Costa after the final, the tournament director,” he said.

“I’m like even if I play there, he always comes up with a response, I can’t do anything.

“He was trying to give me tips on how to play and I was like even if I do that, it doesn’t work.

“At the time I was in disbelief.”

The pair didn’t meet on clay again until the 2019 Madrid Masters semi-finals, when Tsitsipas took down Nadal in three sets.

“There is no chance you can beat Rafa [Nadal] on clay, until it happened,” he said.

“In Madrid was when I unlocked the code and thought ‘it can happen’.”

After stumbling in the second set, Tsitsipas came through a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, winner, booking his spot in a clay Masters 1000 final for the first time.

He was unable to take advantage of the opportunity, however, as he lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

Rafael Nadal’s dominance at the Barcelona Open

Tsitsipas wasn’t the only player to come up short against Nadal in Barcelona, as the Spaniard dominated his home tournament throughout his career.

The now 38-year-old won the title a record 12 times, a remarkable achievement considering no other player has won more than three times at the event.

Nadal’s dominance at clay court events wasn’t just limited to Barcelona, as he also enjoyed more success than any other player at four more big clay tournaments.

• French Open – 14 victories
• Monte-Carlo Masters – 11 victories
• Italian Open – 10 victories
• Madrid Open – 5 victories

No-one could touch the Spaniard on the red stuff, from his debut in 2003 to his retirement in 2024.

Nadal won his final title on clay at the French Open in 2022, as he battled through injury to take the title against Casper Ruud.

It was his 14th win at Roland Garros, a record that many believe will remain untouched, as will several others he’s added to his resume on the clay.

The 2025 European clay season will kick off with the Monte-Carlo Masters on April 6.