By Chris Oddo | Monday, May 11, 2015
After his defeat in the Madrid final, Rafael Nadal has fallen out of the Top 5 for the first time in a decade.
Photo Source: Mutua Madrid Open
Rafael Nadal’s loss to Andy Murray in the Madrid final knocked the king of clay out of the ATPs Top 5 for the first time in over ten years.
More: Murray Shines in Madrid Final
The Spaniard hasn’t been this low since May 2, 2005, a day that saw Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Gaston Gaudio round out the Top 5:
Despite the setback, and the one-sided loss to Murray, Nadal remains positive that he can turn his fortunes around on his beloved clay.
“I tried until the very end,” Nadal said, after Sunday's 6-3, 6-2 loss. “I think the attitude was there. During every single moment I was fighting and trying to give the maximum. It's one of those days where things just don't work out. About the feeling, well, it's been a positive week. I'm not going to lie. A week before I would've signed for these results, of course. I've played a couple good matches, especially yesterday's match. I said that yesterday. It's one of the best matches I have played in a long time.
So I cannot leave Madrid not happy. I have to leave happy and just delete what happened today. I will just stay with the good things that happened this week and there are a lot of them, more good than bad and then I will try to recover in Rome the feelings.”
He added: “I think I've made a step forward and I'm playing better. My game is better. I haven't been able to play two weeks in a row, well, in the whole year. I think it's time that I play two weeks in a row. Let's see what happens next week in Rome. Hopefully I'll be focused and fight as much as I can to make a good week.”
Nadal, seeded fourth in Rome, is slated to meet Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals, and either Roger Federer or Tomas Berdych in the semis, if the seeds hold.
The Spaniard is a seven-time champion at Italy’s premier event.