Rafa at Roland Garros 2008
Rafa continues to impress on clay. With many questioning how much more he can play and if he is still the elite player he has been for so long, Nadal has started the clay season with a bang, well two bangs really. After demolishing the field in Monte Carlo including a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of Verdasco, he went on to wipe through the draw at Rome as well for his 17th Masters Series trophy. He ties Agassi for most ever and stands one ahead of Federer. Now he stands 10-0 on the year on Clay with 2 titles. He is still the best player in the world on clay despite a couple loses last season and there is no reason to expect anybody to challenge him on the ‘terre battue’ this season. I look for him to win his first Madrid title in a few weeks and then to regain his throne at Roland Garros.
Here is a little perspective on Nadal’s clay court dominance:
Career 191-16 record on Clay.
Since the start of 2005 its 167-6.
81 match winning streak from Early 2005 to 2007 snapped by Federer at Hamburg.
Never lost more than 2 matches or won fewer than 3 titles on clay in any year 2004-2009. Already 2 titles in 2010.
Key Clay Court Tournament History
Monte Carlo: 34-1 with 6 titles in 7 tries (only loss in 2003 to Coria)
Rome: 27-1 with 5 titles in 6 tries (only loss in 2008 to Ferrero)
Hamburg: 11-2 with 1 title in 3 tries (loss in 2007 to Federer and in 2003 to Gaudio)
Barcelona: 26-1 with 5 titles in 6 tries (only loss in 2003 to Corretja)
Madrid (only on Clay in 2009): 4-1 (loss to Federer)
Roland Garros: 31-1 with 4 titles in 5 tries (only loss in 2009 to Soderling)
The Bull from Mallorca truly does own the dirt.
*All information from atpworldtour.com
