View source for 2021 Rafael Nadal tennis season

{{Main|Rafael Nadal}}
{{infobox tennis player season
|fullname              = Rafael Nadal Parera
|country               = {{nowrap|{{ESP}}}}
|calendarprizemoney    = $[[#Earnings|699,195]] <!--(singles & doubles)-->
|singlesrecord         = {{tennis record|won=14|lost=3}}
|singlestitles         = 
|currentsinglesranking = No. 3
|singlesrankingchange  = {{tennis ranking change|new=3|old=2}} <!-- Ranking from previous year: #2 -->
|AustralianOpenresult  = QF
|FrenchOpenresult      = 
|Wimbledonresult       = 
|USOpenresult          = 
|doublesrecord         = {{tennis record|won=0|lost=0}}
|doublestitles         = 
|currentdoublesranking = No. 510
|doublesrankingchange  = {{tennis ranking change|new=510|old=475}} <!-- Ranking from previous year: #475 -->
|mixedrecord           = 
|mixedtitles           = 
|Daviscupresult        = 
|Injury                = <!-- add injuries with date/interval, type of injury in brackets and reference if available -->
|Notes                 = <!-- general important notes and/or anything that has changed from previous season: change of coach, equipment, ...etc -->
|updated               = {{date|2021-5-12}}
}}
The '''2021 Rafael Nadal tennis season''' officially began on 9 February 2021, with the start of the [[2021 Australian Open|Australian Open]].

==Yearly summary==
===Early hard court season===
====ATP Cup====
Rafael Nadal was scheduled to begin his season at the [[2021 ATP Cup|ATP Cup]]. However, despite being on Spain's team, he wasn't able to play any matches due to minor back issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-atp-cup-2021-tuesday|title=Nadal Will Not Compete Against Australia Tuesday|website=atptour.com|date=2 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/Rafael_Nadal/94676/rafael-nadal-i-m-not-in-a-terrible-shape-but-i-m-not-well-enough-to-play-/|title=Rafael Nadal: 'I'm not in a terrible shape, but I'm not well enough to play'|website=tennisworldusa.org|date=5 February 2021}}</ref>

====Australian Open====
{{See also|2021 Australian Open – Men's Singles}}
At the [[2021 Australian Open – Men's Singles|2021 Australian Open]], Nadal lost in the quarterfinals to [[Stefanos Tsitsipas]], despite being two sets to love up. This marked only the second time Nadal has lost a grand slam match after being two sets up.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rafael Nadal Is Out of the Australian Open |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/sports/tennis/rafael-nadal-loses-australian-open.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref>

====Indian Wells Masters====
[[Indian Wells Masters]] was scheduled to take place in March 2021 but has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12174890/indian-wells-2021-bnp-paribas-open-postponed-due-to-covid-19-concerns|title=Indian Wells: 2021 BNP Paribas Open postponed due to COVID-19 concerns|website=skysports.com|date=29 December 2020}}</ref>
====Miami Open====
Nadal withdraws from this year’s [[2021 Miami Open|Miami Open]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-withdraws-miami-2021|title=Nadal Announces Miami Withdrawal|website=ATP Tour|date=16 March 2021}}</ref>
===Spring clay court season===
====Monte-Carlo Masters====

====Barcelona Open====
[[Rafael Nadal]] saved a match point to defeat [[Stefanos Tsitsipas]], in 3 hours and 38 minutes, the longest final since 1991 (when records began). This was his record-extending 12th title at the event. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Rafael Nadal Saves M.P., Beats Stefanos Tsitsipas For 12th Barcelona Title {{!}} ATP Tour {{!}} Tennis|url=http://www.atptour.com/en/news/nadal-tsitsipas-barcelona-2021-sunday|access-date=2021-04-25|website=ATP Tour}}</ref><ref>[https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tennis-nadal-outlasts-tsitsipas-claim-191349668.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFV9YdCvVZiC39AeCN-_bd87JxTarbC_yHEkHPAaCTbeE2acl6mKJhSKNkL85Ruo95sM1dEvloQW1kWAy7SP67-oohGNrzWe7lg2_AxurI5BJAREXCD4OPRfkUTJJB_0Hwn9IJCyuS06zGu8IY_x9Dpb_WYxf-zUk5Zrivlh0AvY Yahoo''!''news:Tennis-Nadal outlasts Tsitsipas to claim 12th Barcelona Open title]</ref>
====Madrid Open====
====Italian Open====

==All matches==
This table chronicles all the matches of Rafael Nadal in 2021.
{{performance key}}

===Singles matches===
{{tennis sm header}}
<!-- 2021 ATP Cup --><!-- Please, do not remove this tournament. Nadal was part of the draw until his withdrawal. -->
{{tennis sm tournament|m=1|c=AC|n=[[2021 ATP Cup|ATP Cup]]|l=[[Melbourne]], Australia|s=Hard, outdoor|d=2 – 7 February 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|withdrew=yes}}
<!-- 2021 Australian Open  -->
{{tennis sm tournament|m=5|c=GS|n=[[2021 Australian Open – Men's Singles|Australian Open]]|l=[[Melbourne]], Australia|s=Hard, outdoor|d=8 – 21 February 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=1R|m=1 / 1209||o={{flagicon|SRB}} [[Laslo Đere]]|rk=56|rt=Win|s=6–3, 6–4, 6–1}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=2R|m=2 / 1210|o={{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Mmoh]] (Q)|rk=177|rt=Win|s=6–1, 6–4, 6–2}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=3R|m=3 / 1211|o={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Cameron Norrie]]|rk=69|rt=Win|s=7–5, 6–2, 7–5}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=4R|m=4 / 1212|o={{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fabio Fognini]] (16)|rk=17|rt=Win|s=6–3, 6–4, 6–2}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=QF|m=5 / 1213|o={{flagicon|GRE}} [[Stefanos Tsitsipas]] (5)|rk=6|rt=Loss|s=6–3, 6–2, 6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>, 4–6, 5–7|last=yes}}
<!-- 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters -->
{{tennis sm tournament|m=4|c=1000|n=[[2021 Monte-Carlo Masters – Singles|Monte-Carlo Masters]]|l=[[Monte Carlo]], Monaco|s=Clay, outdoor|d=12 – 18 April 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=1R|bye=yes}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=2R|m=6 / 1214|o={{flagicon|ARG}} [[Federico Delbonis]] (Q)|rk=87|rt=Win|s=6–1, 6–2}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=3R|m=7 / 1215|o={{flagicon|BUL}} [[Grigor Dimitrov]] (14)|rk=17|rt=Win|s=6–1, 6–1}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=QF|m=8 / 1216|o={{flagicon|RUS}} [[Andrey Rublev]] (6)|rk=8|rt=Loss|s=2–6, 6–4, 2–6|last=yes}}
<!-- 2021 Barcelona Open -->
{{tennis sm tournament|m=6|c=500|n=[[2021 Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell – Singles|Barcelona Open]]|l=[[Barcelona]], Spain|s=Clay, outdoor|d=19 – 25 April 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=1R|bye=yes}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=2R|m=9 / 1217|o={{flagicon|BLR}} [[Ilya Ivashka]] (Q) |rk=111|rt=Win|s=3–6, 6–2, 6–4}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=3R|m=10 / 1218|o={{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kei Nishikori]] |rk=39|rt=Win|s=6–0, 2–6, 6–2}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=QF|m=11 / 1219|o={{flagicon|GBR}} [[Cameron Norrie]] |rk=58|rt=Win|s=6–1, 6–4}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=SF|m=12 / 1220|o={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Pablo Carreño Busta]] (6)|rk=13|rt=Win|s=6–3, 6–2}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=W|m=13 / 1221|o={{flagicon|GRE}} [[Stefanos Tsitsipas]] (2)|rk=5|rt=Win|rtc=1|s=6–4, 6–7<sup>(6–8)</sup>, 7–5|last=yes}}
<!-- 2021 Madrid Open -->
{{tennis sm tournament|m=4|c=1000|n=[[2021 Mutua Madrid Open – Men's Singles|Madrid Open]]|l=[[Madrid]], Spain|s=Clay, outdoor|d=2 – 9 May 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=1R|bye=yes}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=2R|m=14 / 1222|o={{flagicon|ESP}} [[Carlos Alcaraz]] (WC) |rk=120|rt=Win|s=6–1, 6–2}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=3R|m=15 / 1223|o={{flagicon|AUS}} [[Alexei Popyrin]] (Q) |rk=76|rt=Win|s=6–3, 6–3}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=QF|m=16 / 1224|o={{flagicon|GER}} [[Alexander Zverev]] (5)|rk=6|rt=Loss|s=4–6, 4–6|last=yes}}
<!-- 2021 Italian Open -->
{{tennis sm tournament|m=4|c=1000|n=[[2021 Italian Open – Men's Singles|Italian Open]]|l=[[Rome]], Italy|s=Clay, outdoor|d=9 – 16 May 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=1R|bye=yes}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=2R|m=17 / 1225|o={{flagicon|ITA}} [[Jannik Sinner]]|rk=18|rt=Win|s=7–5, 6–4}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=3R|m=18 / 1226|o={{flagicon|CAN}} [[Denis Shapovalov]] (13) |rk=14|rt=Win|s=3–6, 6–4, 7–6<sup>(7–3)</sup>}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=QF|m=19 / 1227|o={{flagicon|GER}} [[Alexander Zverev]] (6)|rk=6|rt=Win|s=6–3, 6-4|last=yes}}
{{tennis sm footer}}
<!-- ===Doubles matches===
{{tennis sm header|doubles=yes}}

{{tennis sm footer}} -->

<!-- IMPORTANT: SCORES '''MUST''' BE DOCUMENTED PER WP:TENSCR:
1) NDASH SYMBOL (–) SHOULD BE USED, '''NOT''' NDASH CODE (NO &ndash;)
2) TIEBREAK SCORES MUST BE LISTED USING PARENTHESES IN SUPERSCRIPT (e.g. 7–6<sup>(7–5)</sup>)
tbd=yes|last=yes}}
-->

==Exhibition matches==
===Singles===
{{tennis sm header}}
{{tennis sm tournament|m=1|n=A Day at the Drive<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/On_the_ATP_results_with/94480/rafael-nadal-beats-dominic-thiem-at-a-day-at-the-drive-in-adelaide/|title=Rafael Nadal beats Dominic Thiem at A Day at the Drive in Adelaide|website=tennisworldusa.org|date=29 January 2021}}</ref>|l=[[Adelaide]], Australia|s=Hard, outdoor|d=29 January 2021}}
{{tennis sm match|rd=–|m=1|o={{flagicon|AUT}} [[Dominic Thiem]] |rk=3|rt=Win|s=7–5, 6–4|last=yes}}
{{tennis sm footer}}

==Schedule==
Per Rafael Nadal, this is his current 2021 schedule (subject to change).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/rafael-nadal-schedule-for-the-2021-season-atp-tennis-news/ |title=Rafael Nadal’s Schedule for the 2021 Season |website=essentiallysports.com |access-date=6 January 2021}}</ref> The [[ATP Rankings]] are currently affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]; they are on a Best of 24-month basis through the week of 15 March 2021. Until then, all the events are non-mandatory and players can use the best result from the same event in that 24-month span.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atptour.com/en/news/fedex-atp-rankings-adjustments-faq|title=FedEx ATP Rankings COVID-19 Adjustments FAQ|date=13 January 2021|website=ATP}}</ref>

===Singles schedule===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|-
!style="width:150px"|Date
!Tournament
!Location
!Tier
!Surface
!Prev.<br>result
!Prev.<br>points
!New<br>points
!Result

|- style="background:#ECF2FF;"
| 2 February 2021–<br>7 February 2021 || [[2021 ATP Cup|ATP Cup]] || Melbourne (AUS) || [[ATP Cup]] || Hard || F || 250 || N/A (250{{efn|name=ATPCup|Currently carried over from the [[2020 ATP Cup|2020 edition]] of the ATP Cup.}}) || Withdrew due to minor back issues

|- style="background:#F3E6D7;"
| 8 February 2021–<br>21 February 2021 || [[2021 Australian Open|Australian Open]] || Melbourne (AUS) || [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] || Hard || QF || 360 || 360 || style="background:#ffebdc;"|Quarterfinals (lost to {{flagicon|GRE}} [[Stefanos Tsitsipas]], 6–3, 6–2, 6–7<sup>(4–7)</sup>, 4–6, 5–7)

|- style="background:#E9E9E9;"
| 22 March 2021–<br>4 April 2021 || [[2021 Miami Open|Miami Open]] || Miami (USA) || [[ATP Tour Masters 1000|Masters 1000]] || Hard || NH || N/A || N/A || style="background:white;"| Withdrew

|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
| 12 April 2021–<br>18 April 2021 || [[2021 Monte-Carlo Masters|Monte Carlo Masters]] ||Monte Carlo (MON) || Masters 1000 || Clay || SF || 360 || 180 ||style="background:#ffebdc;"|Quarterfinals (lost to {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Andrey Rublev]], 2–6, 6–4, 2–6)

|- style="background:#D4F1C5;" 
| 19 April 2021–<br>25 April 2021 || [[2021 Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell|Barcelona Open]] || Barcelona (ESP) || 500 Series || Clay || SF || 180 || 500 || style="background:lime;"|'''Champion''' (defeated {{flagicon|GRE}} Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 6–7<sup>(6–8)</sup>, 7–5)

|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
| 3 May 2021–<br>9 May 2021 || [[2021 Mutua Madrid Open|Madrid Open]] || Madrid (ESP) || Masters 1000 || Clay ||  SF || 360  || 180 ||style="background:#ffebdc;"|Quarterfinals (lost to {{flagicon|GER}} [[Alexander Zverev]], 4–6, 4–6)

|- style="background:#e9e9e9;"
| 9 May 2021–<br>16 May 2021 || [[2021 Italian Open (tennis)|Italian Open]] || Rome (ITA) || Masters 1000 || Clay || QF || 180  || || style="background:#e9e9e9;"| 

|- style="background:#F3E6D7;"
| 31 May 2021–<br>13 June 2021 || [[2021 French Open|French Open]] || Paris (FRA) || Grand Slam || Clay || W || 2000 || ||  

|- style="border-top:4px solid silver;"
<!-- UPDATE AT END OF TOURNAMENTS -->
|colspan=6 align=right|'''Race to Turin points as of ''Madrid Open'''''
| {{#expr: 250 + 360 + 0 + 360 + 180 + 360}} <!-- + 500 (Mexican Open) + 1000 (Italian Open) + 2000 (French Open) + 360 (Paris Masters) + 400 (ATP Finals) -->
| {{#expr: 250 + 360 + 0 + 180 + 500 + 180<!-- +  -->}}
| {{increase}} {{#expr: <!-- column 1 minus column 2 --> 1510 - 1470}} '''difference'''

|-
|colspan=6 align=right|'''Total year-end points'''
| 9810
| 
| 
|}

===Doubles schedule===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|-
!style="width:150px"|Date
!Tournament
!Location
!Tier
!Surface
!Prev.<br>result
!Prev.<br>points
!New<br>points
!Result

|- style="background:#ECF2FF;"
| 2 February 2021–<br>7 February 2021 || [[2021 ATP Cup|ATP Cup]] || Melbourne (AUS) || [[ATP Cup]] || Hard || F || 95 || N/A (95{{efn|name=ATPCup}}) || Withdrew due to minor back issues

|- style="border-top:4px solid silver;"
|colspan=6 align=right|'''Total year-end points'''
| 95
| 
| 
|}

==Yearly records==
===Head-to-head matchups===
Rafael Nadal has a {{tennis record|won=15|lost=3}} ATP match win-loss record in the 2021 season. His record against players who were part of the [[ATP Rankings]] Top Ten at the time of their meetings is {{tennis record|won=1|lost=3}}. '''Bold''' indicates player was ranked top 10 at the time of at least one meeting. The following list is ordered by number of wins:

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Cameron Norrie]] 2–0
* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Carlos Alcaraz]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Pablo Carreño Busta]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Federico Delbonis]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|SRB}} [[Laslo Đere]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|BUL}} [[Grigor Dimitrov]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Fabio Fognini]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|BLR}} [[Ilya Ivashka]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Michael Mmoh]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kei Nishikori]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Alexei Popyrin]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Denis Shapovalov]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Jannik Sinner]] 1–0
* {{flagicon|GRE}} '''[[Stefanos Tsitsipas]]''' 1–1
* {{flagicon|RUS}} '''[[Andrey Rublev]]''' 0–1
* {{flagicon|GER}} '''[[Alexander Zverev]]''' 0–1

{{div col end}}
:''* Statistics correct {{as of|2021|5|13|lc=y}}.''

===Finals===

====Singles: 1 (1 title)====
{| 
|valign=top|
{|class=wikitable
!Category
|-style="background:#f3e6d7;"
|Grand Slam (0–0)
|-style="background:#ffc;"
|ATP Finals (0–0)
|-style="background:#e9e9e9;"
|Masters 1000 (0–0)
|-style="background:#d4f1c5;"
|500 Series (1–0)
|-
|250 Series (0–0)
|}
|valign=top|
{|class=wikitable
!Titles by surface
|-
|Hard (0–0)
|-
|Clay (1–0)
|-
|Grass (0–0)
|}
|valign=top|
{|class=wikitable
!Titles by setting
|-
|Outdoor (1–0)
|-
|Indoor (0–0)
|}
|}
{|class="sortable wikitable"
!Result
!class="unsortable"|W–L
!{{ns}}Date{{ns}}
!Tournament
!Tier
!Surface
!Opponent
!class="unsortable"|Score
|-
|style="background:#98fb98;"|Win
|<small>1–0</small>
|[[2021 Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell – Singles|{{dts|Apr 2021}}]]
|style="background:#d4f1c5;"|Barcelona Open, Spain <small>(12)</small>
|style="background:#d4f1c5;"|500 Series
|Clay
|{{flagicon|GRE}} Stefanos Tsitsipas
|6–4, 6–7<sup>(6–8)</sup>, 7–5
|}

===Earnings===

*'''Bold''' font denotes tournament win

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
| colspan=3| '''Singles'''
|-
! Event !! Prize money !! Year-to-date
|-
| [[2021 Australian Open|Australian Open]]|| A$525,000 || $360,832
|-
| [[2021 Monte-Carlo Masters|Monte-Carlo Masters]] ||€46,500 ||$416,144
|-
|'''[[2021 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell|Barcelona Open]]'''||'''€178,985'''  ||$629,046
|-
| [[2021 Mutua Madrid Open|Madrid Open]] ||€58,370 ||$699,195
|-
| [[2021 Italian Open (tennis)|Italian Open]] ||€ ||$
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan=2 bgcolor=#DCDCDC| ||$699,195
|-
| colspan=3| '''Total'''
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan=2 bgcolor=#DCDCDC| || $699,195
|-
|}
<small> Figures in [[United States dollar]]s (USD) unless noted. </small>
*source：[https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafael-nadal/n409/player-activity?year=2021&matchType=Singles 2021 Singles Activity]
*source：[https://www.atptour.com/en/players/rafael-nadal/n409/player-activity?year=2021&matchType=Doubles 2021 Doubles Activity]

==See also==
* [[2021 ATP Tour]]
* [[2021 Novak Djokovic tennis season]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://www.rafaelnadal.com/en/}} {{in lang|es}}
*[https://www.atptour.com/en/players/-/N409/overview ATP tour profile]

{{Rafael Nadal}}
{{2021 in tennis}}

[[Category:Rafael Nadal tennis seasons]]
[[Category:2021 tennis player seasons|Nadal]]
[[Category:2021 in Spanish sport]]