A new rivalry may be developing between the two best clay-court players on the ATP Tour: Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem. On Saturday, they will play in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open, marking their 12th overall time against each other. Nadal seems to have the upperhand, holding an 8-3 head-to-head lead, but the Austrian has proven himself to be more than capable against the Spaniard.
The two have not faced off yet in 2019. The last time Nadal and Thiem have gone to battle in Barcelona was in 2017 in the final; Nadal won that bout. You have to fast forward to last year's Madrid Masters in the quarterfinals to find the last time that Thiem defeated Nadal.