(UTV|COLOMBO) – Rafael Nadal’s 21-match unbeaten run on clay ended as he was knocked out of the Madrid Open in the quarter-finals by Dominic Thiem.
Nadal had been unbeaten on the surface since losing to Thiem in May 2017 and again lost to the Austrian 7-5 6-3.
The Spaniard had not dropped a set on clay since losing to Thiem in 2017 and set a new record of 50 consecutive set wins on a single surface on Thursday.
The defeat means Roger Federer will replace Nadal as world number one.
Federer returns to the summit despite not playing since 24 March and sitting out the clay-court season, as Nadal will lose the ranking points from his win in Madrid last year when the list is updated on Monday.
Five-time Madrid champion Nadal was below his best, hitting 29 unforced errors in the two sets, but Thiem produced a fine performance.
He failed to convert break points in the first game of the match but broke Nadal’s serve in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead.
Nadal saved a set point before breaking back for 5-5 but Thiem won the following two games to close out the set.
The Austrian won an enthralling nine-minute game to break serve and take a 2-1 lead in the second set and, despite Nadal levelling at 3-3, Thiem broke serve twice more en route to clinching the match.
Thiem will play South African Kevin Anderson in the semi-final.
Courtesy: BBC Sport
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