Nadal Sets Record For Consecutive Set Wins on Clay

May 11, 2018 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Nadal (167)_crop

 

Spain’s Rafael Nadal added another footnote to his clay dominance, setting the record of consecutive set wins on one surface to 50.

Nadal defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4 in the third-round of the Madrid Open on Thursday, pushing his streak to 50 straight set wins on clay, surpassing John McEnroe’s mark of 49 straight set wins on grass in 1984.

“When my career is over, these are things that are going to be there for always. It’s difficult to be able to win 50 sets in a row,” said Nadal. “Well, it’s done. It’s over. Let’s not talk about that any more, and let’s continue on what we have ahead, which is what I am concerned about.”

Nadal has now won 38 of 39 matches on clay and is 18-1 this season. He faces a tough test in his fourth-round match at Madrid as he will square off against Austria’s Dominic Thiem in a rematch of last year’s final.

Thiem is the last player to defeat Nadal on clay, doing so at Rome last year.

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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