Rafael Nadal’s Barcelona win: 5 stats and records that you should know

Rafael Nadal’s ninth win at the Barcelona Open on Sunday was a monumental feat. It not only signalled his resurgence but it also helped the 14-time Grand Slam champion notch up some significant records that further underline his dominance on clay.

Here are five of those important records or stats that you should know:

1. Ties with Guillermo Vilas’ Open Era record

In 2015, when Nadal reached the Argentina Open final in February, everyone was eagerly waiting for him to equal Argentine legend Guillermo Vilas’s Open Era record of 46 titles on the dirt. But hours before the final, the ATP amended the former four-time Grand Slam champion’s record and added three more clay titles to make it 49.

This was because three of Vilas’ titles that were originally believed to have been won on hardcourts, were actually on clay and it took the ATP that long to rectify it.

Nadal needed just 14 more months to match that feat at Barcelona and be the joint owner of the impressive record. With the major part of the European clay season still left in 2016, Rafa will look to break away from the tie this year itself.