Top-ranked Rafael Nadal lost to Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-3 in the Madrid Open quarterfinals on Friday, breaking the defending champion's run of 21 straight wins on clay courts.
Nadal hadn't lost a single set on clay since falling to Thiem at the Rome Open quarterfinals one year ago.
Since that loss, Nadal had been impeccable on his preferred surface. He had won the French Open and the hard-court U.S. 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.
"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."
