Rafael Nadal to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in Barcelona Open final

Spaniard defeats compatriot Pablo Carreno in straight sets on Saturday

Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Pablo Carreno Busta in the semi-final of the Barcelona Open on Saturday, April 24. AFP

Spain's Rafael Nadal on his way to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over countryman Pablo Carreno Busta. Reuters

Pablo Carreno Busta during his defeat to Rafael Nadal in Barcelona. AFP

A frustrated Rafael Nadal during his semi-final win. Reuters

Pablo Carreno Busta during his defeat to Rafael Nadal. Reuters

Rafael Nadal during his win over Pablo Carreno Busta. AFP

Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his semi-final victory over Jannik Sinner in Barcelona. AP

Grecce's Stefanos Tsitsipas during his 6-3, 6-3 win over Jannik Sinner of Italy. EPA

Jannik Sinner returns the ball against Stefanos Tsitsipas. AFP

Stefanos Tsitsipas serves to Jannik Sinner during his victory in Barcelona. AP

Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates after beating Jannik Sinner. Getty

Rafael Nadal will face in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Barcelona Open final after the 11-time champion eased past fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday.

Nadal roared out to a 5-1 lead before Carreno pulled back a break. Carreno then had three break chances on Nadal’s next service game, but the latter saved them all and closed out the set.

Any thoughts of a Carreno comeback were snuffed out when Nadal broke his first service game of the second set in intimidating fashion.

Carreno thought he smashed the ball well beyond Nadal’s reach, only for the 20-time Grand Slam winner to angle into position and blast the ball right back past him as Carreno lost his footing and tumbled to the clay.

Top-seed Nadal improved to an 8-0 career record against the 13th-ranked Carreno.

“I am very happy to be back in a final here at an historic event, a home event [and] an important one for me,” said Nadal. “I think I did things well today, better than the other days. I have been improving every single day a little bit more.”

Second-seed Tsitsipas advanced after beating Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-3 for his eighth consecutive straight-set victory including last week’s title run at Monte Carlo. The Greek’s 26 wins this season are matched only by Andrey Rublev on the men’s circuit.

Tsitsipas beat Nadal in their last meeting in the Australian Open quarterfinals in February, when Tsitsipas rallied from a two-set deficit over four hours.

Nadal will try to stop Tsitsipas’ winning streak on Sunday.

Overall, Nadal holds a 6-2 head-to-head record with Tsitsipas, including a victory in the 2018 Barcelona Open final.

“It feels great to be back [in the final]. I will try to redeem myself from last time,” Tsitsipas said.

“Tomorrow will be a very tough one. [Stefanos] is playing probably better than ever,” said Nadal. “Not one set lost in Monte-Carlo and here, so it will be the toughest opponent possible. I hope to be ready. It is going to be a tough one, but I need to be ready to increase my level and let’s see.”

The 34-year-old Nadal has won all 11 finals he has reached in Barcelona. He dominated the tournament in his home country from 2005-09, 2011-13, and 2016-18. He lost in the 2019 semifinals to eventual champion Dominic Thiem. Last year the event was not held because of the coronavirus pandemic.