There was a time when Rafael Nadal was dominating on clay and never lost a match. The streak began in April 2005 at Monte Carlo, when Nadal beat Gael Monfils. He was only 18 but already showed glimpses
of being something special. From that day until May 2007, Nadal kept winning on clay. Match after match, tournament after tournament, the Spaniard became almost impossible to stop on his favourite surface. He won titles at Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros, turning the clay-court season into his own territory.
The French Open became the biggest stage for his dominance. Nadal won the title in 2005, 2006 and 2007, while also defeating some of the best players in the world along the way. By the time he reached Hamburg in 2007, his clay winning streak had reached 81 matches. The number was extraordinary as no man had ever put together such a run on a single surface in the Open Era.
May 2007: Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal 2-6 6-2 6-0 in Hamburg final, ending the Spaniard’s 81 match winning streak on clay 😳
After that match, Nadal said: “If I have to lose to anyone, Roger is the man. I am not sad to lose to the best player in the world.” 🤝 https://t.co/TFaNd7Q3vf
— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) May 4, 2024
Roger Federer broke 81 match streak on clay
In the Hamburg final, Nadal won the first set 6-2, but Federer refused to let the match slip away. He changed his approach, attacked Nadal and won the next two sets 6–2, 6–0 and the streak was over. Nadal had lost on clay for the first time in more than two years. The defeat did not change what he had already accomplished. If anything but instead it made the streak feel even more remarkable.
From April 2005 to May 2007, Nadal had turned a clay court into his fortress and it was breached by Federer. Even today, the 81-match run remains one of the best examples of just how dominant Nadal could be on clay. For two years Rafael Nadal was not beatable on clay surfaces and dominated every opponent he faced.
