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2006 Rafael Nadal tennis season

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2006 Rafael Nadal tennis season
Full nameRafael Nadal Parera
Country Spain
Calendar prize money$3,746,360 (Singles $3,732,760, Doubles $13,600)[1][2]
Singles
Season record59–12
Calendar titles5
Year-end rankingNo. 2
Ranking change from previous yearSteady
Grand Slam & significant results
Australian OpenDNS
French OpenW
WimbledonF
US OpenQF
Injuries
InjuriesKnee injury
2005
2007
Nadal in 2006

The 2006 Rafael Nadal tennis season started in February as Nadal missed the Australian Open because of a foot injury.[3] Nadal won five singles titles in 2006.

Hard court

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In February, Nadal lost in the semifinals of the first tournament he played, the Open 13 tournament in Marseille, France. Two weeks later, he handed Roger Federer his first loss of the year in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships (in 2006, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray were the only two men who defeated Federer), thus ending Federer’s 56-match winning streak on hard courts.[4] To complete the spring hard-court season, Nadal was upset in both the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters by James Blake, and in the second round of the Miami Masters by Carlos Moyá, who thus ended Nadal's 22-match win streak over fellow Spaniard players.[5]

Clay season

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On European clay, Nadal won all four tournaments he entered and 24 consecutive matches. He defeated Federer in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters in four sets.[6] The following week, he defeated Tommy Robredo in the final of the Open Sabadell Atlántico tournament in Barcelona. After a one-week break, Nadal won the Italian Masters, defeating Federer in a fifth-set tiebreaker in the final, after saving two match points and equaling Björn Borg's tally of 16 ATP titles won as a teenager.[7] Nadal broke Argentinian Guillermo Vilas's 29-year male record of 53 consecutive clay-court match victories by beating Robin Söderling in the first round of the French Open.[8][9] Vilas presented Nadal with a trophy, but commented later that Nadal's feat was less impressive than his own because Nadal's winning streak covered two years and was accomplished by adding easy tournaments to his schedule.[10]

Nadal went on to face Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, the first-ever meeting of their historic rivalry, which Nadal won via a retirement from Djokovic after Nadal took the first two sets.[11] He then beat Ivan Ljubičić to set up a final against Federer. The first two sets of the match were hardly competitive, as the rivals traded 6–1 sets. Nadal won the third set easily and served for the match in the fourth set before Federer broke him and forced a tiebreaker. Nadal won the tiebreaker and became the first player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam tournament final.[12]

2006 Roland Garros champion

Nadal injured his shoulder while playing a quarterfinal match against Lleyton Hewitt at the Artois Championships, played on grass at the Queen's Club in London.[13] Nadal was unable to complete the match, which ended his 26-match winning streak.

Wimbledon

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Nadal was seeded second at Wimbledon, but was two points from defeat against American qualifier Robert Kendrick in the second round before coming back to win in five sets.[14] In the third round, Nadal defeated world No. 20 Andre Agassi in straight sets in Agassi's last career match at Wimbledon.[15] Nadal also won his next three matches in straight sets, which set up his first Wimbledon final, which was against Federer, who had won this tournament the three previous years. Nadal was the first Spanish man since Manuel Santana in 1966, to reach the Wimbledon final, but Federer won the match in four sets to win his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title.[16]

US Open Series

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During the lead up to the US Open, Nadal played the two Masters Series tournaments in North America. He was upset in the third round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto and in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters by Juan Carlos Ferrero. Nadal was seeded second at the US Open, but lost in the quarterfinals to world No. 54 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in four sets.[17]

Nadal played only three tournaments for the remainder of the year. Joachim Johansson, ranked world No. 690, upset Nadal in the second round of the Stockholm Open.[18] The following week, Nadal lost to Tomáš Berdych in the quarterfinals of the year's last Masters Series tournament, the Madrid Masters. During the round-robin stage of the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup, Nadal lost to James Blake but defeated Nikolay Davydenko and Robredo. Because of those two victories, Nadal qualified for the semifinals, where he lost to Federer. This was Nadal's third loss in nine career matches with Federer.[19]

Singles matches

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Tournament Match Round Opponent Rank Result Score
Open 13
Marseille, France
ATP World Tour 250
Hard, indoor
13–19 February 2006
1 / 164 1R Belgium Olivier Rochus 30
Win
4–6, 6–2, 7–5
2 / 165 2R France Gilles Simon 80
Win
7–5, 6–4
3 / 166 QF France Paul-Henri Mathieu 35
Win
7–5, 6–4
4 / 167 SF France Arnaud Clément 65
Loss
6–2, 3–6, 5–7
Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, U. A. E.
ATP World Tour 500
Hard, outdoor
27 February – 5 March 2006
5 / 168 1R France Paul-Henri Mathieu 34
Win
6–7(5–7), 6–1, 6–2
2R Morocco Younes El Aynaoui 211
Win
(W/O)
6 / 169 QF United Kingdom Tim Henman 49
Win
7–6(7–1), 6–1
7 / 170 SF Germany Rainer Schüttler 98
Win
6–4, 6–2
8 / 171 W Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (1)
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
Pacific Life Open
Indian Wells, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
6–19 March 2006
1R Bye
9 / 172 2R Czech Republic Jan Hernych 87
Win
6–4, 6–4
10 / 173 3R United States Mardy Fish 294
Win
6–1, 6–4
11 / 174 4R France Sébastien Grosjean 22
Win
6–4, 6–2
12 / 175 QF Cyprus Marcos Baghdatis 27
Win
7–5, 6–0
13 / 176 SF United States James Blake 14
Loss
5–7, 3–6
Sony Ericsson Open
Miami, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
20 March – 2 April 2006
1R Bye
14 / 177 2R Spain Carlos Moyá 35
Loss
6–2, 1–6, 1–6
Monte Carlo Masters
Monte Carlo, Monaco
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
15–23 April 2006
15 / 178 1R France Arnaud Clément 56
Win
6–4, 6–4
16 / 179 2R Monaco Jean-Rene Lisnard 154
Win
6–4, 6–1
17 / 180 3R Belgium Kristof Vliegen 57
Win
6–3, 6–3
18 / 181 QF Argentina Guillermo Coria 9
Win
6–2, 6–1
19 / 182 SF Argentina Gastón Gaudio 8
Win
5–7, 6–1, 6–1
20 / 183 W Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (2)
6–2, 6–7(2–7), 6–3, 7–6(7–5)
Torneo Godo
Barcelona, Spain
ATP World Tour 500
Clay, outdoor
24–30 April 2006
1R Bye
21 / 184 2R Spain Feliciano López 38
Win
6–4, 6–2
22 / 185 3R Spain Iván Navarro 164
Win
6–4, 6–2
23 / 186 QF Finland Jarkko Nieminen 16
Win
4–6, 6–4, 6–3
24 / 187 SF Spain Nicolás Almagro 57
Win
7–6(7–2), 6–3
25 / 188 W Spain Tommy Robredo 15
Win (3)
6–4, 6–4, 6–0
Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Rome, Italy
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
8–14 May 2006
28 / 189 1R Spain Carlos Moyá 33
Win
6–1, 2–6, 6–2
27 / 190 2R Italy Filippo Volandri 46
Win
6–1, 6–2
28 / 191 3R United Kingdom Tim Henman 70
Win
6–2, 6–2
29 / 192 QF Chile Fernando González 9
Win
6–4, 6–3
30 / 193 SF France Gaël Monfils 35
Win
6–2, 6–2
31 / 194 W Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (4)
6–7(0–7), 7–6(7–5), 6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–5)
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
Clay, outdoor
29 May – 11 June 2006
32 / 195 1R Sweden Robin Söderling 50
Win
6–2, 7–5, 6–1
33 / 196 2R United States Kevin Kim 116
Win
6–2, 6–1, 6–4
34 / 197 3R France Paul-Henri Mathieu 32
Win
5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
35 / 198 4R Australia Lleyton Hewitt 14
Win
6–2, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2
36 / 199 QF Serbia Novak Djokovic 63
Win
6–4, 6–4 RET
37 / 200 SF Croatia Ivan Ljubičić 4
Win
6–4, 6–2, 7–6(9–7)
38 / 201 W Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (5)
1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6(7–4)
Stella Artois Championships
London, United Kingdom
ATP World Tour 250
Grass, outdoor
12–18 June 2006
1R Bye
39 / 202 2R United States Mardy Fish 86
Win
7–6(7–1), 6–1
40 / 203 3R Spain Fernando Verdasco 30
Win
2–6, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–3)
41 / 204 QF Australia Lleyton Hewitt 13
Loss
6–3, 3–6 RET
The Championships, Wimbledon
Wimbledon, United Kingdom
Grand Slam
Grass, outdoor
26 June – 9 July 2006
42 / 205 1R United Kingdom Alex Bogdanovic 135
Win
6–4, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
43 / 206 2R United States Robert Kendrick 237
Win
6–7(4–7), 3–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–5, 6–4
44 / 207 3R United States Andre Agassi 20
Win
7–6(7–5), 6–2, 6–4
45 / 208 4R Georgia (country) Irakli Labadze 166
Win
6–3, 7–6(7–4), 6–3
46 / 209 QF Finland Jarkko Nieminen 18
Win
6–3, 6–4, 6–4
47 / 210 SF Cyprus Marcos Baghdatis 16
Win
6–1, 7–5, 6–3
48 / 211 F Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Loss (1)
0–6, 6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–2), 3–6
Rogers Cup
Montreal, Canada
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
7–13 August 2006
49 / 212 1R Chile Nicolás Massú 38
Win
6–3, 6–2
50 / 213 2R South Korea Hyung-Taik Lee 85
Win
6–4, 6–3
51 / 214 3R Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych 14
Loss
1–6, 6–3, 2–6
Western & Southern Financial Group Masters
Cincinnati, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
14–20 August 2006
52 / 215 1R United States Sam Querrey 178
Win
6–7(5–7), 6–2, 6–3
53 / 216 2R South Korea Hyung-Taik Lee 73
Win
6–4, 6–3
54 / 217 3R Germany Tommy Haas 17
Win
7–6(7–5), 6–3
55 / 218 QF Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 31
Loss
6–7(2–7), 6–7(3–7)
US Open
New York, USA
Grand Slam
Hard, outdoor
28 August – 10 September 2006
56 / 219 1R Australia Mark Phillipoussis 113
Win
6–4, 6–4, 6–4
57 / 220 2R Peru Luis Horna 61
Win
6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
58 / 221 3R South Africa Wesley Moodie 82
Win
6–4, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5)
59 / 222 4R Czech Republic Jiří Novák 179
Win
6–1, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
60 / 223 QF Russia Mikhail Youzhny 54
Loss
3–6, 7–5, 6–7(5–7), 1–6
Davis Cup, ITA v/s ESP World Group Play Offs
Spain
Davis Cup
Clay, outdoor
18–24 September 2006
61 / 224 RR Italy Andreas Seppi 69
Win
6–0, 6–4, 6–3
62 / 225 RR Italy Filippo Volandri 38
Win
3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3
If Stockholm Open
Stockholm, Sweden
ATP World Tour 250
Hard, indoor
9–15 October 2006
63 / 226 1R Netherlands Raemon Sluiter 90
Win
6–4, 6–2
64 / 227 2R Sweden Joachim Johansson 690
Loss
4–6, 6–7(4–7)
Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid
Madrid, Spain
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
16–22 October 2006
1R Bye
65 / 228 2R United States Mardy Fish 54
Win
6–4, 6–2
66 / 229 3R Germany Tommy Haas 13
Win
6–4, 6–3
67 / 230 QF Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych 11
Loss
3–6, 6–7(6–8)
Tennis Masters Cup
Shanghai, China
Year-end Championships
Hard, indoor
13–19 November 2006
68 / 231 RR United States James Blake 8
Loss
4–6, 6–7(0–7)
69 / 232 RR Spain Tommy Robredo 6
Win
7–6(7–2), 6–2
70 / 233 RR Russia Nikolay Davydenko 3
Win
5–7, 6–4, 6–4
71 / 234 SF Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Loss
4–6, 5–7

Year end ranking

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Nadal went on to become the first player since Andre Agassi in 1994–95 to finish the year as the world No. 2 in consecutive years.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rafael Nadal, Player 2006 activity, Singles". aptworldtour. 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Rafael Nadal, Player 2006 activity, Doubles". aptworldtour. 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Champion Safin out of Aussie Open". BBC Sport. 10 January 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  4. ^ "4 March 2006: The day Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's 56-match hard court streak". www.tennismajors.com. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Moya Snaps Nadal 22-Match Spanish Win Streak at Miami". www.tennis-x.com. 25 March 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Return Winners: the 2006 Monte Carlo final". www.tennis.com. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Nadal refuses to lose in five-hour, five-setter against Federer in Rome". www.tennis.com. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Nadal wins record 54th straight on clay". ESPN. 29 May 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  9. ^ "Nadal Forms a Feat of Clay". www.latimes.com. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  10. ^ Garber, Greg (31 May 2006). "With Vilas in stands, Nadal makes history". ESPN Tennis/French06. ESPN. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  11. ^ "Nadal v Djokovic, Roland Garros, 2006: Chapter One in 15-year rivalry". www.theaustralian.com.au. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  12. ^ Garber, Greg (12 June 2006). "Roger's reign on hold with Nadal's dominance". ESPN. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  13. ^ "Shoulder Forces Nadal To Quit London Match". The New York Times. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  14. ^ "Nadal survives scare to set up tie with Agassi". www.theguardian.com. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Nadal and a final match at Wimbledon for Agassi". www.rafanadalacademy.com. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Federer takes crown for a fourth year but Nadal leaves his nerves in shreds". www.theguardian.com. 10 July 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Youzhny shocks Nadal". www.eurosport.com. 7 September 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  18. ^ "Johansson upsets Nadal". www.theage.com.au. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Federer beats Nadal again". www.eurosport.com. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
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