2007 Rafael Nadal tennis season

Main article: Rafael Nadal
2007 Rafael Nadal tennis season
Full nameRafael Nadal Parera
Country Spain
Calendar prize money$4,896,935 (Singles $4,862,310, Doubles $34,625)
Singles
Season record70–15
Calendar titles6
Year-end rankingNo. 2
Ranking change from previous year
Grand Slam & significant results
Australian OpenQF
French OpenW
WimbledonF
US Open4R
Injuries
InjuriesKnee Injury
← 2006
2008 →

The 2007 Rafael Nadal tennis season officially began on 1 January 2007 with the start of the Chennai Open. He won five titles, including one Major and three Masters.

Year summary

Rafael Nadal started the year by playing in six hard-court tournaments. He lost in the semifinals and first round of his first two tournaments and then lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open to eventual runner-up Fernando González. After another quarterfinal loss at the Dubai Tennis Championships, he won the Indian Wells Masters after beating Novak Djokovic in the final, before losing to Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Miami Masters.

He played five clay-court tournaments in Europe after that, winning the titles at the Monte-Carlo Masters, the Torneo Godó in Barcelona, and the Italian Open, before losing to Roger Federer in the final of the Hamburg Masters. This defeat ended his 81-match winning streak on clay, which is the male Open Era record for consecutive wins on a single surface. He bounced back quickly in the French Open, not dropping a set en route to the final where he faced Federer once again, this time winning in four sets to join Björn Borg as the only man to win three French Open titles in a row since 1914.

Between the tournaments in Barcelona and Rome, Nadal defeated Federer in the "Battle of Surfaces" exhibition match in Mallorca, Spain, with the tennis court being half grass and half clay.

Nadal played the Artois Championships at the Queen's Club in London for the second consecutive year. As in 2006, Nadal was upset in the quarterfinals. Nadal then won consecutive five-set matches during the third and fourth rounds of Wimbledon before being beaten by Federer in the five-set final. This was Federer's first five-set match at Wimbledon since 2001.

In July, Nadal beat the unseeded Stan Wawrinka in the final of the clay-court Stuttgart Open, which proved to be his last title of the year. He played three important tournaments during the North American summer hard court season. He was a semifinalist at the Canadian Masters in Montreal before losing his first match at the Cincinnati Masters. He was the second-seeded player at the US Open, but was defeated in the fourth round by David Ferrer, and spent the tournament dealing with a knee injury.

After a month-long break from tournament tennis, Nadal played the Madrid Masters in Madrid and the Paris Masters, but David Nalbandian beat him in straight sets in the quarterfinals and final of those tournaments. To end the year, Nadal won two of his three-round robin matches to advance to the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, where Federer defeated him in straight sets.

In addition, there were rumors at the end of the year that the foot injury he suffered during 2005, caused long-term damage, which were given credence by coach Toni Nadal's claim that the problem was "serious". Nadal and his spokesman strongly denied this, however, with Nadal himself calling the story "totally false".

Singles matches

Tournament Match Round Opponent Rank Result Score
Chennai Open
Chennai, India
ATP World Tour 250
Hard, outdoor
1–8 January 2007 		1 / 235 1R Rainer Schüttler 96
Win
 6–4, 6–2
2 / 236 2R Karan Rastogi 480
Win
 6–4, 6–1
3 / 237 QF Davide Sanguinetti 106
Win
 6–3, 6–2
4 / 238 SF Xavier Malisse 37
Loss
 4–6, 6–7(4–7)
Medibank International
Sydney, Australia
ATP World Tour 250
Hard, outdoor
7–13 January 2007 		5 / 239 1R Chris Guccione 107
Loss
 5–6 RET
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
Hard, outdoor
15–28 January 2007 		6 / 240 1R Robert Kendrick 90
Win
 7–6(8–6), 6–3, 6–2
7 / 241 2R Philipp Kohlschreiber 61
Win
 7–5, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2
8 / 242 3R Stan Wawrinka 40
Win
 6–2, 6–2, 6–2
9 / 243 4R Andy Murray 16
Win
 6–7(3–7), 6–4, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1
10 / 244 QF Fernando González 9
Loss
 2–6, 4–6, 3–6
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, UAE
ATP World Tour 500
Hard, outdoor
26 February 26 – 4 March 2007 		11 / 245 1R Marcos Baghdatis 17
Win
 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
12 / 246 2R Igor Andreev 139
Win
 6–2, 3–6, 7–6(7–2)
13 / 247 QF Mikhail Youzhny 18
Loss
 6–7(5–7), 3–6
Pacific Life Open
Indian Wells, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
5–18 March 2007 		– 1R Bye
14 / 248 2R Arnaud Clément 53
Win
 6–3, 7–6(7–3)
15 / 249 3R Fernando Verdasco 33
Win
 6–4, 6–4
16 / 250 4R Juan Carlos Ferrero 23
Win
 6–1, 6–1
17 / 251 QF Juan Ignacio Chela 31
Win
 7–5, 7–5
18 / 252 SF Andy Roddick 3
Win
 6–4, 6–3
19 / 253 W Novak Djokovic 13
Win (1)
 6–2, 7–5
Sony Ericsson Open
Miami, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
21 March – 1 April 2007 		– 1R Bye
20 / 254 2R Ricardo Mello 127
Win
 7–6(9–7), 6–2
– 3R Olivier Rochus 36 Win W/O
21 / 255 4R Juan Martín del Potro 63
Win
 6–0, 6–4
22 / 256 QF Novak Djokovic 10
Loss
 3–6, 4–6
Monte Carlo Masters
Monte Carlo, Monaco
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
14–22 April 2007 		– 1R Bye
23 / 257 2R Juan Ignacio Chela 22
Win
 6–3, 6–1
24 / 258 3R Kristof Vliegen 52
Win
 6–3, 6–1
25 / 259 QF Philipp Kohlschreiber 59
Win
 6–2, 6–3
26 / 260 SF Tomáš Berdych 14
Win
 6–0, 7–5
27 / 261 W Roger Federer 1
Win (2)
 6–4, 6–4
Torneo Godo
Barcelona, Spain
ATP World Tour 500
Clay, outdoor
23–29 April 2007 		– 1R Bye
28 / 262 2R Kristof Vliegen 53
Win
 6–1, 6–2
29 / 263 3R Thomas Johansson 73
Win
 6–1, 6–4
30 / 264 QF Potito Starace 72
Win
 6–2, 7–5
31 / 265 SF David Ferrer 16
Win
 7–5, 6–1
32 / 266 W Guillermo Cañas 28
Win (3)
 6–3, 6–4
Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Rome, Italy
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
5–13 May 2007 		– 1R Bye
33 / 267 2R Daniele Bracciali 125
Win
 6–4, 6–2
34 / 268 3R Mikhail Youzhny 16
Win
 6–2, 6–2
35 / 269 QF Novak Djokovic 5
Win
 6–2, 6–3
36 / 270 SF Nikolay Davydenko 4
Win
 7–6(7–3), 6–7(8–10), 6–4
37 / 271 W Fernando González 6
Win (4)
6–2, 6–2
Masters Series Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
14–22 May 2007 		– 1R Bye
38 / 272 2R Óscar Hernández 69
Win
 7–5, 6–1
39 / 273 3R Igor Andreev 164
Win
 6–4, 6–1
40 / 274 QF Fernando González 5
Win
 6–4, 6–4
41 / 275 SF Lleyton Hewitt 21
Win
 2–6, 6–3, 7–5
42 / 276 F Roger Federer 1
Loss (1)
 6–2, 2–6, 0–6
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
Clay, outdoor
27 May – 10 June 2007 		43 / 277 1R Juan Martín del Potro 59
Win
 7–5, 6–3, 6–2
44 / 278 2R Flavio Cipolla 227
Win
 6–2, 6–1, 6–4
45 / 279 3R Albert Montañés 50
Win
 6–1, 6–3, 6–2
46 / 280 4R Lleyton Hewitt 16
Win
 6–3, 6–1, 7–6(7–5)
47 / 281 QF Carlos Moyá 26
Win
 6–4, 6–3, 6–0
48 / 282 SF Novak Djokovic 6
Win
 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
49 / 283 W Roger Federer 1
Win (5)
 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
Stella Artois Championships
London, United Kingdom
ATP World Tour 250
Grass, outdoor
11–17 June 2007 		– 1R Bye
50 / 284 2R Juan Martín del Potro 59
Win
 6–4, 6–4,
51 / 285 3R Max Mirnyi 58
Win
 7–6(7–3), 6–3
52 / 286 QF Nicolas Mahut 106
Loss
 5–7, 6–7(0–7)
The Championships, Wimbledon
Wimbledon, United Kingdom
Grand Slam
Grass, outdoor
25 June – 8 July 2007 		53 / 287 1R Mardy Fish 38
Win
 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
54 / 288 2R Werner Eschauer 72
Win
 6–2, 6–4, 6–1
55 / 289 3R Robin Söderling 28
Win
 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(7–9), 4–6, 7–5
56 / 290 4R Mikhail Youzhny 13
Win
 4–6, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
57 / 291 QF Tomáš Berdych 11
Win
 7–6(7–1), 6–4, 6–2
58 / 292 SF Novak Djokovic 5
Win
 3–6, 6–1, 4–1 RET
59 / 293 F Roger Federer 1
Loss (2)
 6–7(7–9), 6–4, 6–7(3–7), 6–2, 2–6
Mercedes Cup
Stuttgart, Germany
ATP World Tour 500
Clay, outdoor
16–23 July 2007 		60 / 294 1R Alexander Waske 135
Win
 6–1, 6–1
61 / 295 2R Philipp Kohlschreiber 37
Win
 6–3, 6–3
62 / 296 QF Juan Mónaco 29
Win
 6–1, 6–3
63 / 297 SF Feliciano López 84
Win
 6–1, 7–5
64 / 298 W Stan Wawrinka 50
Win (6)
 6–4, 7–5
Rogers Cup
Montreal, Canada
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
6–12 August 2007 		– 1R Bye
65 / 299 2R Marat Safin 22
Win
 7–6(7–4), 6–0
66 / 300 3R Paul-Henri Mathieu 23
Win
 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
67 / 301 QF Frank Dancevic 91
Win
 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
68 / 302 SF Novak Djokovic 4
Loss
 5–7, 3–6
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
Ohio, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
11–19 August 2007 		– 1R Bye
69 / 303 2R Juan Mónaco 25
Loss
 6–7(5–7), 1–4 RET
US Open
New York, USA
Grand Slam
Hard, outdoor
27 August – 9 September 2007 		70 / 304 1R Alun Jones 123
Win
 7–5, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1
71 / 305 2R Janko Tipsarević 56
Win
 6–2, 6–3, 3–2 RET
72 / 306 3R Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 74
Win
 7–6(7–3), 6–2, 6–1
73 / 307 4R David Ferrer 15
Loss
 7–6(7–3), 4–6, 6–7(4–7), 2–6
Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid
Madrid, Spain
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
15–21 October 2007 		– 1R Bye
74 / 308 2R Marcos Baghdatis 22
Win
 6–4, 6–4
75 / 309 3R Andy Murray 17
Win
 7–6(7–5), 6–4
76 / 310 QF David Nalbandian 25
Loss
 1–6, 2–6
BNP Paribas Masters
Paris, France
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
27 October – 4 November 2007 		– 1R Bye
77 / 311 2R Filippo Volandri 41
Win
 6–3, 6–1
78 / 312 3R Stan Wawrinka 36
Win
 6–4, 6–3
79 / 313 QF Mikhail Youzhny 18
Win
 6–4, 6–2
80 / 314 SF Marcos Baghdatis 22
Win
 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
81 / 315 F David Nalbandian 21
Loss (3)
 4–6, 0–6
Tennis Masters Cup
Shanghai, China
Year-end Championships
Hard, indoor
11–18 November 2007 		82 / 316 RR Richard Gasquet 8
Win
 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
83 / 317 RR David Ferrer 6
Loss
 6–4, 4–6, 3–6
84 / 318 RR Novak Djokovic 3
Win
 6–4, 6–4
85 / 319 SF Roger Federer 1
Loss
 4–6, 1–6

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rafael Nadal, Player 2007 activity, Singles". aptworldtour. 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Rafael Nadal, Player 2007 activity, Doubles". aptworldtour. 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Gonzalez makes light work of Nadal". www.theguardian.com. 24 January 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Rafa tastes victory again". www.eurosport.com. 18 March 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ "20 May 2007: Roger Federer breaks Rafael Nadal's 81-match winning streak on clay". www.tennismajors.com. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Nadal's key serving leads to French Open three-peat". www.tennis.com. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "The Battle of Surfaces". Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  8. ^ "Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer on a 50-50 court of clay and grass in 2007". www.givemesport.com. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  9. ^ Cheese, Caroline (7 July 2007). "Wimbledon 2007". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  10. ^ "Nadal wins Stuttgart title". www.eurosport.com. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Nadal withdraws from Cincinnati Masters". www.reuters.com. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Nadal shown the door by Ferrer". www.theguardian.com. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b Newbury, Piers (28 November 2007). "Nadal plays down foot injury fear". BBC Sport Tennis. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  14. ^ "Nalbandian destroys Nadal's perfect Paris record". www.independent.co.uk. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Federer crushes Nadal to reach Shanghai final". www.reuters.com. 17 November 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2023.