Nadal loses first clay match in one year

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal lost to Dominic Thiem 7-5, 63 in the Madrid Open quarter-finals yesterday, breaking the defending champion’s run of 21 straight wins on clay courts.

Nadal had not lost a single set on clay since falling to Thiem a year ago in the Italian Open quarter-finals.

Since that loss, Nadal had been impeccable on his preferred surface. He won the French Open and the hard-court US Open to take his Grand Slam haul to 16, and he came to the Spanish capital fresh off winning his 11th titles at both Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

But Thiem succeeded in doing the nearly impossible with his deep drives: Make Nadal look sluggish and a step slow on clay.

GOOD ENOUGH

“Of course I am disappointed,” Nadal said. “I tried to fight back but I wasn’t good enough and he was better.”

Thiem got the better of long rallies by hitting precise winners, and avoided the costly errors that sunk Nadal’s title defense.

The fifth-seeded Austrian earned his third career victory in nine meetings with Nadal, all on clay. He also avenged his loss to Nadal here in last year’s final.

“It’s one of the toughest things to do to beat Rafa on clay,” Thiem said. “It’s so special, amazing, in his home country and in his living room in Madrid. I can just be happy. It was an amazing match.”

Thiem will face sixth-seeded Kevin Anderson in the semifinals after he hit 15 aces to down Dusan Lajovic 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3.