Toughest double: Even for Rafa, winning Madrid and Rome is difficult

Last year, Rafael Nadal became the first player in the Open Era to win the same ATP tour event 10 times—and he did it at three different events: Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros.

He’s already upped that to 11 at both Monte Carlo and Barcelona this year, and in a few weeks he’ll most likely head to Paris as an overwhelming favorite to capture his 11th French Open crown.

Needless to say, he’s the King of Clay.

But over the next two weeks Nadal’s going to try and pull off one of the toughest feats of the clay-court season, even for him: winning Masters 1000s in Madrid and Rome in the same year.

He’s achieved the Madrid-Rome double twice before, in 2010 and 2013. Only one other player—Novak Djokovic—has even done it once, in 2011 (he actually had to get past Nadal in both finals).

Stories of the Open Era—Rafael Nadal, King of Clay:

Individually, Nadal has done extremely well at both Madrid and Rome. He’s won Madrid five times—in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017 (that 2005 title coming when the tournament was held on indoor hardcourts)—and he’s conquered Rome seven times—in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.

If his recent form holds up, the Spaniard has to be a favorite to win Madrid and Rome again this year. Not only is he on a 19-match winning streak on clay, but he’s won 46 sets in a row on the surface, an Open Era record. Add to that some of his toughest rivals are either working their way back from injury (Djokovic, Dominic Thiem) or not even playing on clay this year (Roger Federer, Andy Murray).

Nadal spoke to the Mutua Madrid Open websiteearlier this week about recovering from his own injury struggles this year and finding his best form again in the first few weeks of the clay-court season.

“I was patient and I had the right attitude to try and reach the clay season as fit as possible,” the world No. 1 declared. “Coming into the clay swing with four matches is not ideal preparation, but honestly I feel like I’m playing well. If my body responds and I win matches, I think I’m ready.”

Coverage begins on Tennis Channel and Tennis Channel Plus on Sunday