Nadal Shatters 34-Year Old Record

Spain’s World No. 1, Rafael Nadal has officially broke John McEnroe’s 34-year record of the most consecutive sets won on a single surface. The feat was achieved at the Madrid Open where he won his 50th consecutive set on clay.

Rafa cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Diego Schwartzman to advance to the quarterfinals. It wasn’t such a good day for Juan Martin del Potro, Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep, who all crashed out.

Incidentally, McEnroe won the Madrid Open title that year. Will Nadal follow suit in the Spanish capital? The Spaniard faces Austrian player Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals.

In Del Potro’s place, Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic will be advancing to the quarterfinal draw.

Lajovic will face South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber.

“I think I can improve a lot of things towards Rome and Roland Garros,” Del Potro said. “I can level up my game. Right now I’m quite calm.”

Sharapova lost in 3 sets to Dutch player Kiki Bertens while 2016 and 2017 champion, Halep, was beaten by Karolina Pliskova.

6th seeded Pliskova, is the sole remaining highest-ranked player left in the women’s draw. Caroline Wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza, Elina Svitolina and Jelena Ostapenko had lost their respective matches.

Pliskova will battle either two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova or Daria Kasatkina for a place in the final.

“Even in the warm-up I felt so good today,” Pliskova said.

“I think I played one of my best matches this year for sure, and for sure on clay in my life.”

A disappointed Halep said: “Today she didn’t miss. I didn’t play badly in my opinion.

“I missed in some important moments, that’s why it went her way but I’m not very disappointed about this match. She deserved to win.”

Coming back to the Men’s draw, Kyle Edmund maintained his strong run with a win over eighth seed David Goffin.

He will next face Denis Shapovalov, who defeated compatriot Milos Raonic, 6-4, 6-4.

Second seed Alexander Zverev beat Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer and will now do battle with John Isner.