The 21-time Grand Slam winner will vie for his fourth title in 2022 before the French Open in Paris.
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Spanish-ace Rafael Nadal will return to clay-court action at Barcelona Open 2022 in April to secure his fourth title of the year. Nadal has maintained a fine streak in 2022 as he started with winning the ATP 250 trophy at the Melbourne Summer Set in January before brushing aside newly crowned Russian World No.1 Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open 2022 final and claiming the Acapulco title after beating Cameron Norrie in the final. The Spaniard will be looking to maintain his form ahead of the French Open in Paris.
Tournament director David Ferrer said: “Having Rafa in Barcelona is very exciting for the tournament and the expectation will be high to know how far he can go.”
READ MORE: Rafael Nadal news: Spaniard defeats Cameron Norrie to clinch Acapulco title
Nadal claimed his 12th Barcelona Open title last year after overcoming an in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in three hours and 37 in the final. It was a neck and neck affair but the Spaniard used his experience and held on his nerve to reign supreme in the contest. It was his 61st ATP title on clay and the first in Barcelona since 2018.Â
The World No.4 recalled the Barcelona Open 2021 final and said that it was one of the best summit clash he had played in the tournament as Tsitsipas carried a fine run after winning the title in Monte Carlo and reached the Barcelona final without losing a set
“I think I never played a final like this in Barcelona; it means a lot to me, especially against a player like Stefanos, who won the Monte Carlo crown and reached the final here without losing a set. It is a significant victory for me,” Nadal told tennisworldusa.org.
“I think I have increased my level during the whole week, and this triumph confirms it. That’s important for today. It means a lot to me to lift the trophy, not only for my current form but for the future as well,” he added.Â
The Barcelona Open 2022 is slated to get underway from April 16. It will be a good dress rehearsal for Nadal ahead of the French Open which is scheduled to take place in May. He will look to win a record-extending 14th title at Roland Garros after losing to Serbian megastar and 20-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in last year’s semi-finals.
