Despite winning 36 Masters 1000 titles, Rafael Nadal is still aiming to fight for the trophies at the elite ATP level. The Spaniard went into the season with 398 Masters 1000 wins and it didn’t take him much time to top 400.
to secure victory at this level, becoming the first player to do so! Rafa has progressed through the round of 16 in Indian Wells, beating Sebastian Korda and Daniel Evans to reach the milestone ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Nadal’s career has always been linked to the Masters 1000 events, he made his debut in Monte Carlo in 2016 as a qualifier and scored two wins to make a name for himself. Rafa became the 2005 Masters 1000 champion, clinching four titles in his last full teenage season and setting many records in the years to come.
Rafael Nadal is the first player with 400 Masters 1000 wins
Nadal has won at least one Masters 1000 trophy in 15 of the last 17 seasons and he should soon add another year with the Masters 1000 title if he maintains a high level at Indian Wells or during the clay court season.
It took Rafa just 124 Masters 1000 events to earn the 400th win, reaching 97 quarterfinals, 75 semifinals and 52 title fights! The Spaniard was close to defeat in the second round against Sebastian Korda, trailing 5-2 in the decider and earning two crucial breaks in the dying moments to close the gap and win the match.
In the third round, the 35-year-old made a slow start against Daniel Evans before writing another page in the record books with a 7-5, 6-3 win. Rafa defeated Daniel in straight sets for the third time, taking 15 more points and fending off three of four break chances to keep the pressure on at the other end.
The Briton led 4-2 in the first set before the Spaniard upped his level to win five of their last six games and avoid the setback. Nadal grabbed an early break in set number two and held it until the end to cross the finish line and advance into the last 16 with a forehand winner in game nine.
Rafa meets Reilly Opelka in the fourth round in hopes of continuing the winning streak and earning their 18th win in as many matches in 2022.
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