Nadal’s shock Madrid Open defeat means he loses No1 ranking

MADRID: Rafa Nadal suffered a shock 7-5 6-3 defeat by Austrian Dominic Thiem in the Madrid Open quarter-finals yesterday, a result that means the Spaniard will lose the world number one ranking.

Thiem, who lost to Nadal in the Monte Carlo quarter-finals last month, was the last player to beat the Spaniard on clay – at last year’s Rome Masters.

Nadal had set a record of winning 50 consecutive sets on a single surface by beating Argentine Diego Schwartzman on Thursday.

Nadal’s exit means Roger Federer will reclaim the number one spot when the revised ATP rankings are released on Monday.

Thiem stuck to the baseline and took his groundstrokes early to unsettle Nadal, who was unusually below par in the opening set on his favourite surface, making several unforced errors.

Although the 24-year-old Austrian failed to convert a set point in the ninth game, he pounced at the second time of asking to seal the first set with an ace.

A couple of mistimed forehands from Nadal handed Thiem an early 3-1 advantage in the second set but the defending champion fought back to draw level after six games.

But Thiem was not to be denied and won 10 of the next 11 points to snuff out any chance of a Nadal comeback, sealing victory with a powerful crosscourt winner in under two hours.

“I haven’t been good enough today,” Nadal told reporters. “He was better than me today. That’s the end of the story.”

The result means that fifthseed Thiem becomes only the third player – after Argentine’s Gaston Gaudio and Serb Novak Djokovic – to beat Nadal on clay on three occasions.

“I had to really increase my level compared to Monte Carlo to beat Rafa here,” Thiem said.

“He won 21 matches on clay and 50 sets. So I had to play an extraordinary match, and that’s what I did. I think a very important thing also was today that I went in with the attitude that I can beat him.”

Despite the defeat, Nadal will still be favourite to win the French Open for a record-extending 11th time next month.

In the Madrid semi-finals today, Thiem faces big-serving South African Kevin Anderson, who has beaten the Austrian in their last six encounters. Sixth seed Anderson, who was runner-up at last year’s US Open, beat Serb Dusan Lajovic 7-6(3) 3-6 6-3 earlier yesterday. On Thursday, Nadal set a new record of winning 50 consecutive sets on a single surface by beating Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-4.

The Mallorcan surpassed John McEnroe’s previous record of 49 consecutive sets on carpet which had stood since 1984 by seeing off 13th seed Schwartzman and claiming a 21st consecutive win on clay.

Nadal said he was unaware of the record. “These moments I don’t go out there and think about these kind of things. I just think about my opponent, what I have to do to keep on going. That’s all,” the Spaniard said.

“When my career is over, these are things that are going to be there for always. They are big records. It’s difficult to be able to win 50 sets in a row. But I’ve done it.

“Let’s not talk about that any more and let’s continue on what we have ahead.” – Reuters