Watch: Nadal Talks Name Honor

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Rafael Nadal has branded his name on the Barcelona.

Now, Nadal's name is embedded on the Barcelona Open stadium court.

Watch: Rafa's Record, Nastase Defends Meltdown

The Real Club de Tenis Barcelona has named its stadium court Rafa Nadal Court in honor of the nine-time champion.

"To have the name, my name, in the center court in Barcelona is something that is very beautiful," Nadal said. "Just can say thanks very much to the club for this award."

Nadal says the historic Barcelona club breathes tennis and asserts it's important for the tour to support events staged at traditional clubs including Barcelona and Monte Carlo.

"I think is one of the top events on tour because is a historic event with a lot of tradition," Nadal said. "A lot of years of the tournament, a lot of great players have been playing there.

"And it’s in a real tennis club. It’s like here, is a real tennis club. When you are playing in a place that they are not only in stadiums for two weeks or for one week, is always little bit more special. The place breathes tennis, no?

"That tradition makes the event, I think, a little bit more important. That’s why I think it’s so important in our tour to combine historic events and traditional events with great new shows and great new stadiums. That makes our sport bigger and bigger."

Así se levanta la pista Rafa Nadal!! #pistarafanadal #bcnopenbs #godo #rctb #tenis #barcelona #rctb1899 #rafanadal

A post shared by Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell (@bcnopenbs) on
Apr 25, 2017 at 4:33am PDT

The 30-year-old Spaniard captured his unprecedented 10th Monte Carlo Masters championship on Sunday, becoming the first man in the Open Era to win a tournament 10 times. Nadal also became the first man to win 50 career-clay court championships, breaking the record he shared with Hall of Famer Guillermo Vilas.

The reigning champion launches his quest for a 10th Barcelona title when he faces 69th-ranked Rogerio Dutra Silva in his Barcelona opener on Wednesday.

Should Nadal prevail, he would play big-serving South African Kevin Anderson for a quarterfinal spot.

Photo credit: Barcelona Open BancSabadell

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