Nadal beats Tsitsipas to claim his 80th ATP Tour title with Rogers Cup success
Rafael Nadal spoiled Stefanos Tsitsipas’ 20th birthday with a straight-sets victory that earned the world number one his 80th ATP Tour title.
Top seed and 17-time grand slam champion Nadal was not in the mood for offering the Greek youngster any gifts as he sealed a 6-2 7-6 (7-4) success in Toronto on Sunday.
Nadal has now won 33 Masters 1000 tournaments – including four Rogers Cup trophies – though this was his first on hard court in five years.
Unseeded Greek Tsitsipas had beaten Dominic Thiem, Novak Djokovic, defending champion Alexander Zverev and Kevin Anderson en route to the final, but Nadal denied him what would have been a first ATP Tour title.
King in Canada @RafaelNadal wins 80th ATP title 6-2 7-6(4) over Tsitsipas.#RogersCup pic.twitter.com/8TaOxxmHnR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 12, 2018
Tsitsipas showed no sign of early nerves when he held his opening service game to love but the more experienced Nadal was typically clinical from the baseline and soon claimed two breaks.
And the Spaniard wrapped up the first set in just 35 minutes thanks to nine winners.
Rafa Is Racing
Nadal takes the first set 6-2 in 35 minutes, winning 16/17 service points. What does #NextGenATPTsitsipas need to do to come back?
Live Updateshttps://t.co/bNWnTV2M83 pic.twitter.com/2S4pOhskTt
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) August 12, 2018
Another break for Nadal at the start of the second set suggested the final could be over quickly, particularly when Tsitsipas won just two points across the Spaniard’s next four service games.
However, with Nadal on serve and one game from victory, Tsitsipas picked a timely moment to claim his first break.
The Greek then had set point on Nadal’s serve only for the Spaniard to survive when his dink hit the net and fell on Tsitsipas’ side of the court.
Around the world in 80 titles @RafaelNadal wins an 80th ATP World Tour trophy at the 2018 #RogersCup pic.twitter.com/K36b7ROwdZ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 12, 2018
Tsitsipas had a mini-break in the tie-break but Nadal fought back and took his first match point with a forehand winner.
