Nadal’s historic comeback in Madrid: 20 years on

Tournament Feature

Nadal’s historic comeback in Madrid: 20 years on

The Spaniard won his only title on indoor hard court in the Spanish capital in 2005

Julian Finney/Getty Images Rafael Nadal defeated Ivan Ljubicic in the final at the 2005 Mutua Madrid Open. By ATPTour.com/es Staff

Before the Mutua Madrid Open moved to the Caja Mágica to become part of the European clay swing, it was one of the biggest late-season events on indoor hard court. It was probably the toughest surface for the home players, but that did nothing to prevent Juan Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal from triumphing there in the early years of the tournament in the Spanish capital.

One of the most memorable editions of this ATP Masters 1000 came twenty years ago, in 2005. It was a performance that will live long in the minds of tennis fans and in Nadal’s legacy. The Balearic Islander claimed 92 tour-level titles, and this was the only one on indoor hard court.

The surface, which the passing of the years would show was particularly unfavourable for the Nadal, is not the only reason his victory is so legendary. That title, of the five he would eventually win in Madrid, was even more special because of his breathtaking performance in the final against Ivan Ljubicic, coming back from two sets down. As if that was not enough, he did so while suffering from a knee injury that had almost prevented him from playing at all.

In fact, the hefty bandages he wore on his legs became a frequent topic of conversation in the press conference room. “I finished with some pain in my knee,” the Spaniard confessed after his semi-final clash with Robby Ginepri, whom he beat 7-5, 7-6(1). “But I’m not worried. There’s only one match to go and I’m sure I can put up with it.”

Rafael Nadal wins the 2005 Mutua Madrid Open. Photo: Phil Cole/Getty Images.

Nadal could not have imagined, then, what was to come. The Spaniard had won his opener against Victor Hanescu 7-6(5), 6-3. In the second round he took down his countryman Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-4 and in the quarter-finals he beat Radek Stepanek 7-6(9), 6-4. In total, he had been on court for six hours and 31 minutes en route to the decider. “The doctor told me my knee is more strained than the other days,” he revealed before the final.

On 23 October 2005, Ljubicic awaited the Spaniard. The big-hitting Croatian reached the clash with Nadal with an average of more than 17 aces per match. Then No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Ljubicic notched 32 of them in the three-hour, 53 minute-final against Nadal.

His outstanding serving took him to a 6-3, 6-2, 1-1, 0/30 lead. But more than 10,000 fans in the stands were about to witness something extraordinary, a demonstration of what would be Nadal’s calling card for over 20 seasons as a professional — turning things around when all seemed lost.

Nadal clawed his way back into the match. Point by point. Set by set. The Manacor native was the man of the moment because of his grit, his ability to approach each point as a battle in which he would never be the first to throw in the towel, seeming to exhaust himself every time.

He won the third set 6-3. In the fourth he managed to level the clash by winning the set 6-4. The fifth was an all-or-nothing tussle that would be decided in a dramatic tie-break, which the Mallorcan would eventually win 7/3.

It was his eleventh title of the most fruitful season of his career, with wins in Costa do Sauipe, Acapulco, Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Bastad, Stuttgart, Canada, Beijing and Madrid. One of the greats of tennis had well and truly introduced himself to the world.

Click here to read article