RAFAEL NADAL celebrated winning an incredible 12th Barcelona Open by stripping off and jumping into a swimming pool.
The Spanish legend, 34, edged past red-hot Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-7 (6) 7-5 in an epic encounter lasting three hours and 38 minutes for yet another clay tournament triumph.
Rafa Nadal celebrated winning his 12th Barcelona Open by jumping into the pool
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Rafa Nadal celebrated winning his 12th Barcelona Open by jumping into the poolCredit: EPA
Nadal attempted a front somersault into the pool after keeping up his impressive record in Catalonia
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Nadal attempted a front somersault into the pool after keeping up his impressive record in CataloniaCredit: EPA
The moment @RafaelNadal won his 12th Barcelona title! 🏆
The Spaniard ends Tsitsipas’ winning streak 6-4 6-7(6) 7-5.#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/DKUyI1h7le
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 25, 2021
And top-seed Nadal celebrated his monumental performance by stripping down to his pink shorts and socks and doing a front somersault into the pool.
The world No3 has never lost in a final at the Barcelona Open and was relieved to keep that record in tact in what was his 16th entry.
Nadal was behind from the start but won four straight games to take the first set.
The top-seeded Spaniard got off to another slow start in the second set and needed another late break.
He wasted two match points at 5-4, then saved three consecutive break points in the following game.
Tsitsipas converted on his third set point of the tiebreaker to force a third set.
The Greek then himself squandered a match point when 5-4 ahead.
Nadal ultimately survived, winning three straight games for the title, before collapsing in a heap on the clay in celebration.