Rafael Nadal ended his career with a stunning five Madrid Open championships to his name.
No one has won more titles than Nadal in Madrid, as he collected titles in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2017.
The King of Clay ended his career with a 83% win rate in Madrid, which was his third best record at a Masters event.
Despite his dominance at the tournament, Nadal was so unhappy with the event in 2012 that he warned he might never play again.
Rafael Nadal was furious with the Madrid Open in 2012
In 2012, the Madrid Open organisers controversially switched to blue clay for the Masters event, so fans could easily see the ball.
However, it did not go down well with fans at all and Nadal, in particular, was loud with his criticism of the tournament.
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“My thoughts haven’t changed on the concept and organization of this tournament. My criticism is not directed at the tournament but at the ATP, which should never have allowed such a change at a tournament of this scale,” he said at the tournament in 2012.
Nadal believes the conditions were unlike a normal clay court event, and the blue clay was slower and bouncier.
“This is a clay-court event that is least like a clay-court event. There is always a chance of playing worse here,” he explained.
“I only speak my mind for the good of the tour and the players, so that we have a clay tournament with few problems. If things continue, [there] will be one less tournament in my calendar.”
Novak Djokovic joined Rafael Nadal in slamming the Madrid Open
The Madrid Open quickly learned from their mistake and moved away from blue clay from the 2013 tournament onward.
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Nadal was not the only player who heavily criticised the Masters tournament for its bizarre change, with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic questioning the decision.
“You are tripping and slipping and sliding all the time and the winner will be the one who doesn’t get hurt until the end of the week because a lot of players fell down,” said Djokovic at the tournament.
Federer, meanwhile, was more diplomatic about the situation, but he did sympathise with Nadal’s position.
“I understand his disappointment,” said Federer. He was against (blue clay) from the start and so was I. He never felt comfortable on the surface. It is a tough surface and that can only add to the anger even more.”
Fans also didn’t like the change of tradition at the Madrid Open, which was part of the reason why it was changed so quickly.
