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Rafael Nadal To Seek 32nd Consecutive Clay Court Win
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Sunday, April 24, 2011 4:25am PST USA
Rafael Nadal To Seek 32nd Consecutive Clay Court Win BARCELONA-- The world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain, who has been playing at nearly his best this week, is set to seek his 32nd consecutive clay court win Sunday in the final of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at Barcelona, Spain.

The 24 year old left hander has not lost a clay court match since May of 2009.

In the final round, Nadal meets a familiar foe as he has faced the fourth seeded, sixth ranked David Ferrer

Rafael Nadal of Spain | Image: Getty

The 24 year old left hander Nadal has not lost a clay court match since May of 2009.

also of Spain twice already this year.

Last year Nadal won the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open back to back and appeared destined to win a non-calendar year grand slam in January at the Australian Open.

But a hamstring injury in Melbourne in the quarterfinals against Ferrer stopped Nadal just short 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

Nadal gained a measure of revenge last week in his first clay court tournament of the year at Monte Carlo in the final round, when he would defeat Ferrer in the pair’s second meeting of the year 6-4, 7-5.

Head to head Nadal leads Ferrer 12-4. Prior to his January defeat, Nadal had not lost to Ferrer since 2007.

Ferrer has only beaten Nadal once on a clay court. In 2004 the 29 year old Ferrer topped Nadal in the quarterfinals at Stuttgart, Germany 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 7-5.

Last year Nadal won ATP Tour clay court tournaments at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid before taking the French Open championship title.

Nadal’s last match lost on clay was also his first and only match lost ever at the French Open; a shocking 6-2, 6-7(2-7), 6-4, 7-6(7-2) loss to Robin Soderling of Sweden in the fourth round.

Nadal refused to blame his knee tendonitis or his family problems at the time for the loss. It was reported in June of 2009 that Nadal’s parents had separated.

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