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No other player has more Mutua Madrid Open titles than him and in 2018 he will be back in a bid to win a record sixth crown. Rafael Nadal (Mallorca, Spain; 1986) was victorious last year after beating Dominic Thiem in the final, as he continued to grow his legend on clay, a surface on which he has long been the best player in history. Before the start of the tournament, the Spaniard spoke to The Magazine and analysed the challenges he faces. 

This year is the tenth anniversary of the Caja Mágica.

- The tournament has been at the Caja Mágica for 10 years? 

"I already have 11 titles here. The only bad thing is that this means that I am getting older, "Rafa Nadal joked at the end of his eleventh final at Real Club Tenis Barcelona, ​​the shortest in history in the number of games: 6-2-6-1, which is equivalent to 15 games, one less than those of the 2014 final between Kei Nishikori and Santiago Giraldo. The Majorcan also becomes the oldest champion of the tournament (31 years, 10 months and 27 days).

Nadal has lifted the Conde de Godó trophy for the eleventh time and with this Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell it puts him in the same orbit as the 1000 Masters of Monte Carlo, where he also won his eleventh crown. He has never lost in Barcelona. And this year by technical KO with an overwhelming score that marks the current difference between the best tennis player in history on clay and a serious contender to succeed him.

2018 Barcelona Open SF Rafael Nadal def. David Goffin  6/4 6/0

Next opponent - Stefanos Tsitsipas 

The victory number 400 on clay of the best player in history on this surface was celebrated almost as the triumph of the tournament. Nadal had reached a milestone and against the only other top-10 left, the Belgian David Goffin, who showed a reasonable opposition in the first set, the record holder of 45 consecutive sets on clay since May 2017 won.