On this day: Rafael Nadal downs Juan Carlos Ferrero in Barcelona final
The 2005 season was still less than four months when an 18-year-old Rafael Nadal had already stood on four ATP titles, continuing with his stellar progress and winning the first Masters 1000 crown in Monte Carlo. Feeling hungry and motivated for more success rather than being tired or pleased with what he had already achieved, Nadal came to Barcelona in the following week and defeated a former Barcelona and Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-1, 7-6, 6-3 in two hours and 56 minutes for his fifth ATP title and the first on the home soil.
A few weeks earlier in Valencia Nadal needed only 58 minutes to dismantle a former world no. 1 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round and he had to work harder in the best-of-five Barcelona title match, fending off eight out of nine break points he faced and stealing rival's serve four times from 11 break points created. With these 300 points (he collected 500 in Monte Carlo seven days ago) Rafa found himself inside the top-10 for the first time on the following day and that makes this success even more special for him. After three solid holds on both sides it was Nadal who drew first blood in game four, converting the fifth break point when Ferrero netted a forehand to open up a 3-1 lead.
The youngster cemented the break with a smash winner and broke again in the following game after a double fault from Juan Carlos. An ace from Rafa wrapped up the set for him at 5-1 and this was very important before the rest of the match against the more experienced rival. Ferrero finally broke Nadal in game four of the second set to open up a 3-1 lead but couldn't keep it for too long, getting broken in the very next game after a loose forehand. There were no more breaks of serve in the rest of the set and it had to be decided in the tie break, with the pressure on Juan Carlos who didn't want to fall two sets to love down.
Nadal kept his focus and fired a forehand down the line winner to clinch it 7-4, becoming a clear favorite for the title now as he gathered huge momentum. That became even more evident after a return winner that sent him 2-0 up in set number three, confirming the break with a service winner and surviving no less than five break points at 3-1 to increase the advantage and show the mental toughness of a true champion. Rafa made a comfortable hold in game seven and Ferrero served to stay in the match in the game that followed, delivering an excellent hold to extend his chances at least for another game.
His efforts were in vain, though, as Nadal brought the ninth game home at 15 to cross the finish line and celebrate the title after a service winner, kicking off his fantastic journey in Barcelona just like he did seven days earlier in Monte Carlo and forging his path towards the clay-court greatness.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2VmEw5b
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