2008 Rafael Nadal tennis season

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2008 Rafael Nadal tennis season
Rafael Nadal at the 2008 French Open.
Full nameRafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera
Country Spain
Calendar prize money$6,773,776 (Singles $6,659,994, Doubles $113,782)[1] [2]
Singles
Season record82–11 (88.2%)
Calendar titles8
Year-end rankingNo. 1
Ranking change from previous yearIncrease 1
Grand Slam & significant results
Australian OpenSF
French OpenW
WimbledonW
US OpenSF
Other tournaments
Olympic Games Gold Medal
Doubles
Season record11–7 (61.1%)
Calendar titles1
Year-end rankingNo. 110
Ranking change from previous yearIncrease 10
Davis Cup
Davis CupW
2007
2009

The 2008 Rafael Nadal tennis season officially began on January 1 with the start of the 2008 ATP Tour. This season is considered to be one of Nadal's best: he won eight titles in 2008, including two majors and the Olympic gold medal. In addition, Nadal also won three Masters titles — Monte-Carlo, Hamburg, and Toronto. Nadal's 32-match winning streak in 2008 is the longest across three surfaces in tennis history. He won the French Open for the loss of no sets and just 41 games, in one of the most comprehensive major performances of all time. Nadal also won Wimbledon, defeating rival and five-time defending champion Roger Federer in what is widely recognized as the greatest tennis match in history.[3] He then won the Olympic gold medal at Beijing, which clinched the world No. 1 ranking for the first time. He ascended to the top spot after 160 consecutive weeks as the world No. 2. Nadal would hold the No. 1 ranking for the rest of the season and finish the year ranked No. 1 for the first time in his career.[4]

Year summary[edit]

Nadal kickstarted his season with a runner-up showing at the Indian city of Chennai. He then played the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. Nadal raced through the tournament before a shock straight-sets loss at the hands of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals. Nadal then had a form slump, winning just three of his next five, and six of his next nine matches. Nadal had his second runner-up result that year at Miami, losing to long-term rival Nikolay Davydenko. Nadal then won his fourth consecutive Monte-Carlo Masters title, losing just 29 games in 5 matches. He followed that up with his second tournament win of the year at the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell. Nadal's winning streak of 10 matches was snapped when compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero stunned him in the second round of the Rome Masters, where Nadal was a three-time defending champion. Nadal then regrouped and began a 32-match winning streak across clay, grass, and hard courts, which is the longest streak on three surfaces in the history of the sport. He won his first Hamburg Masters title in May, and followed it up with a brilliant performance to win his fourth consecutive French Open title, losing just 4 games in the final. Nadal's streak continued with his first grass-court title at Queen's Club in London, and then his first-ever Wimbledon, where he outlasted Federer in what is considered the greatest match in tennis history. Nadal then won his third Masters title and first hard-court title of the year at Toronto. His streak was finally ended in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters by Novak Djokovic. Nadal then entered the Summer Olympics at Beijing, and became the first top-5 ranked player to win the Olympic Gold in the history of the sport. This win also catapulted Nadal to the top of the rankings for the first time in his career. Nadal then made his second hard-court Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open, before losing to Andy Murray in four tight sets. He then helped guide Spain into the Davis Cup Final, notching up wins over Sam Querrey and Andy Roddick. Nadal ended the year as World #1.

Spring hard-court season[edit]

Chennai Open[edit]

Nadal began the year by participating in the Chennai Open in Chennai, India. Nadal defeated Carlos Moyá in the semi-finals in (at the time) the longest three-set match in history, 6–7(3), 7–6(8), 7–6(1), lasting three hours and fifty-four minutes.[5] An exhausted Nadal went on to lose in the finals to Mikhail Youzhny 6–0, 6–1.

Australian Open[edit]

Nadal played his second tournament of the year at the Australian Open. Nadal stormed through the tournament, dropping no sets until he was shocked by the then world number 38 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. He beat Viktor Troicki in the first round 7–6(3), 7–5, 6–1. He then demolished Frenchman Florent Serra, 6–0, 6–2, 6–2. In the third round, he defeated another Frenchman, Gilles Simon, 7–5, 6–2, 6–3. In the round of 16, he beat his third Frenchman of the tournament, Paul-Henri Mathieu, after Mathieu retired when he was down 4–6, 0–3. In the quarter-finals, he beat Jarkko Nieminen, 7–5, 6–3, 6–1. Nadal's impressive run came to a halt when Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga comprehensively beat him in the semi-finals 6–2, 6–3, 6–2.

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament[edit]

Nadal then participated in his first indoor tournament of the year at the Rotterdam Open, Netherlands. Nadal beat Dmitry Tursunov 6–4, 6–4 in the first round before squandering a one-set lead to lose 6–3, 3–6, 4–6 to Italian Andreas Seppi.[6]

Dubai Tennis Championships[edit]

Nadal then returned to the Dubai Open, where he was a former champion. Nadal had won the title by beating Roger Federer in the 2006 Dubai Open, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4. This time around, however, his performance was less than impressive as he lost in the quarter-finals to American World No. 6 Andy Roddick. Nadal looked uncomfortable in his first-round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber, recovering from a one-set deficit to win 3–6, 6–1, 6–4. He then proceeded to push aside World No. 171 Mikhail Ledovskikh 6–4, 6–0, before losing to Roddick in the quarters, 6–7(5), 2–6.[7]

Rafael Nadal at the 2008 Sony Ericsson Open

Pacific Life Open[edit]

In the first Masters Series event of the year, Nadal put in a consistent performance to reach the semi-finals. He beat Colombian Santiago Giraldo in the second round 6–3, 6–3, before defeating American Donald Young 6–1, 6–3 in the third round. Nadal then defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a rematch of their Australian Open semi-final match-up. Nadal stuttered for a while but regrouped to exact revenge on his opponent, 6–7(4), 7–6(3), 7–5. Nadal then defeated World No. 9 James Blake in the quarter-finals in three sets – 7–5, 3–6, 6–3. In the semi-finals, he fell to World No. 3 and the man he beat in the previous year's final, Novak Djokovic, 3–6, 2–6.

Sony Ericsson Open[edit]

Nadal reached the final of Miami Masters for the second time in his career. He defeated German Benjamin Becker 7–5, 6–2 in the second round, followed by the demolition of another German, Nicolas Kiefer in the third round 6–2, 6–4. Nadal defeated James Blake for the second time in two weeks in the quarter-finals, and then beat big-hitting Czech Tomáš Berdych in the semi-finals, 7–6(6), 6–2. Nadal finally fell to long-time rival and the only man with a positive head-to-head against him (minimum 5 matches), Nikolay Davydenko, 4–6, 2–6.

Nadal then defeated Kiefer again at the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals, 7–6(5), 6–0, 6–3.

European clay-court season[edit]

Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters[edit]

Nadal was back on the surface of his choice, red clay. A magnificent run on the red clay would set him up for the great year he had. Nadal won his fourth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters title. He lost just 29 games in 5 matches he played. Nadal received a bye into the second round, where he routed Croatian Mario Ančić 6–0, 6–3. Nadal then defeated fellow Spaniard and former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round, 6–4, 6–1. In the quarterfinals, Nadal beat World No. 5 David Ferrer 6–1, 7–5. Nadal then squandered just 5 games in a comprehensive defeat of Russian Nikolay Davydenko, before defeating long-time rival Roger Federer 7–5, 7–5 in the final to win his tenth Masters title.

Open Sabadell Atlántico Barcelona[edit]

Nadal entered the Barcelona Open as the top seed for the first time in a tournament that year. Nadal stormed through the tournament losing just one set, and extended his winning streak to 10. He defeated a succession of top-50 players up to the semifinals, including Potito Starace, compatriot Feliciano López and Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. He then thrashed World No. 85 Denis Gremelmayr, 6–1, 6–0, before winning the trophy by defeating David Ferrer for the second time in two weeks, 6–1, 4–6, 6–1.

Internazionali BNL d'Italia[edit]

Nadal entered the Italian capital as a three-time defending champion. However, he fell in the second round to Juan Carlos Ferrero, 5–7, 1–6. This loss snapped his winning streak of 16 in the Italian capital.

Hamburg Masters[edit]

Nadal won for the first time at the German city of Hamburg, flagging off his 32-match winning streak which would continue on till the Cincinnati Masters in August. Nadal beat Potito Starace in the second round for the second time that month. He then won a lopsided third-round match against future Grand Slam champion Andy Murray before defeating Carlos Moyá for the second time that season, 6–1, 6–3. Nadal then had two tough matches back-to-back, but came out on top on both occasions. He beat World No. 3 Novak Djokovic 7–5, 2–6, 6–2 in the semifinals. In the finals, he avenged his loss the previous year's championship match by beating Roger Federer, 7–5, 6–7(3), 6–3.

Nadal hits a backhand at the 2008 French Open

Roland Garros[edit]

Nadal then entered the French Open as a three-time defending champion. Nadal's 2008 French Open is considered one of the greatest Grand Slam performances of all time. Nadal won every single set he played in the tournament, and dropped just 41 games en route to his fourth consecutive French Open title. Nadal defeated Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the first round for the loss of 9 games. He then walked past Frenchman Nicolas Devilder in the second round, and then Finn Jarkko Nieminen in the third round, for the total loss of just 10 games. Nadal then thrashed two fellow Spaniards, Fernando Verdasco and Nicolás Almagro back-to-back for the loss of just 6 games. In the semifinals, Nadal played the toughest match of his tournament, defeating Novak Djokovic 6–4, 6–2, 7–6(3) to book his spot in the final. Nadal then proceeded to win one of the most lopsided finals in tennis history, routing World No. 1 Roger Federer for the third consecutive year, 6–1, 6–3, 6–0.

Grass court season[edit]

Queen's Club Championships[edit]

Nadal entered the Queen's Club tournament as a warm-up to Wimbledon. At the time, Nadal was riding a 12-match winning streak and by the end of the tournament, he would have lengthened the streak to 17. Nadal defeated Swede Jonas Björkman in the second round, before stumbling through his next two matches, beating Kei Nishikori in three sets in the third round and then 6'10 Ivo Karlović in three tie-break sets in the quarterfinals. Nadal then defeated another big server, Andy Roddick 7–5, 6–4 in the semifinals; finally winning his first ever grasscourt title by sidling past Novak Djokovic for the third time that year.

The Championships, Wimbledon[edit]

Wimbledon 2008 final, Federer serves for the third set

Nadal entered the 2008 Wimbledon Championships as the two-time runner-up. He was riding a winning streak of 17 matches. Nadal had lost the previous two finals to Roger Federer, including the 2007 Wimbledon final, which was considered to be one of the great matches in recent times. Nadal defeated German Andreas Beck in the first round. He then lost his first set of the tournament in a tight second-round match against Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Nadal stormed through the rest of the tournament, thrashing Nicolas Kiefer, 7–6(3), 6–2, 6–3, Russian Mikhail Youzhny, 6–3, 6–3, 6-1 and future Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray, 6–3, 6–2, 6–4. Nadal then defeated surprise semifinalist Rainer Schüttler 6–1, 7–6(3), 6–4 to set up a third consecutive Wimbledon final with 5-time defending champion Roger Federer. Nadal then played what is considered the greatest match in tennis history, defeating Federer in a 4-hour, 48-minute match, 6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5), 6–7(8), 9–7 in the longest Wimbledon final in history. The win gave Nadal his first Grand Slam outside the French Open, and his fifth Grand Slam overall. The match is notable for its long, well-crafted rallies and the clutch shots produced on crucial points. Federer saved two match points in the fourth-set tie-break, but eventually caved on Nadal's fourth match-point. The two greatest passing shots of the tournament were hit back-to-back late into the fourth-set tiebreak. Nadal hit a clutch forehand pass to set up match-point on his own serve. Federer responded with a backhand pass to save the match-point. Federer eventually closed out the set, but lost the match. Many experts agree this match set Nadal up to the great success that would ensue in the following months.[8][9]

Summer hard-court season[edit]

Rogers Cup[edit]

Nadal with the 2008 Rogers Cup trophy

Nadal rode his streak through the Toronto Masters event in Toronto, Canada. He received a bye into the second round where he routed home hope Jesse Levine, 6–4, 6–2. In the third round, Nadal thrashed Russian Igor Andreev 6–2, 7–6(1). Nadal then faced childhood rival Richard Gasquet in the quarterfinals. He lost the first set in an excruciatingly long tie-break, 6–7(12–14). However, he recovered immediately and pushed Gasquet aside by winning the next two sets 6–2, 6–1. In the semifinals, Nadal was matched up against up-and-comer Andy Murray. Nadal won 7–6, 6–3, reaching his third hard-court final of the year. The final was a contest between him and German Nicolas Kiefer. Nadal destroyed Kiefer 6–3, 6–2 to win his first hard-court title of the year and extend his streak to 29 match wins.

Western & Southern Financial Open[edit]

Nadal next played at the only Masters tournament he has never reached the final at, the Cincinnati Masters. He strode through the draw, demolishing Frenchman Florent Serra for the loss of just one game and then taking down former World No. 2 Tommy Haas, 6–2, 7–6(1). In the quarterfinals, Nadal beat Ecuadorian Nicolás Lapentti in the last win of his streak. It finally ended when World No. 3 Novak Djokovic defeated Nadal in the semifinals, 6–1, 7–5.

Photos[edit]

All Matches[edit]

Singles matches[edit]

Tournament Match Round Opponent Rank Result Score
Chennai Open
Chennai, India
ATP World Tour 250
Hard, outdoor
31 December 2007 – 6 January 2008
1 / 320 1R France Mathieu Montcourt 123
Win
6–2, 6–4
2 / 321 2R United States Rajeev Ram 253
Win
6–2, 6–1
3 / 322 QF Spain Guillermo García López 90
Win
6–3, 6–2
4 / 323 SF Spain Carlos Moyá 17
Win
6–7(3–7), 7–6(10–8), 7–6(7–1)
5 / 324 F Russia Mikhail Youzhny 19
Loss (1)
0–6, 1–6
Australian Open
Melbourne, Australia
Grand Slam
Hard, outdoor
14–27 January 2008
6 / 325 1R Serbia Viktor Troicki 126
Win
7–6(7–3), 6–3, 6–1
7 / 326 2R France Florent Serra 88
Win
6–0, 6–2, 6–2
8 / 327 3R France Gilles Simon 33
Win
7–5, 6–2, 6–3
9 / 328 4R France Paul-Henri Mathieu 25
Win
6–4, 3–0 RET
10 / 329 QF Finland Jarkko Nieminen 26
Win
7–5, 6–3, 6–1
11 / 330 SF France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 38
Loss
2–6, 3–6, 2–6
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Rotterdam, Netherlands
ATP World Tour 500
Hard, indoor
18–24 February 2008
12 / 331 1R Russia Dmitry Tursunov 33
Win
6–4, 6–4
13 / 332 2R Italy Andreas Seppi 42
Loss
6–3, 3–6, 4–6
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, UAE
ATP World Tour 500
Hard, outdoor
3–9 March 2008
14 / 333 1R Germany Philipp Kohlschreiber 27
Win
3–6, 6–1, 6–4
15 / 334 2R Russia Mikhail Ledovskikh 171
Win
6–4, 6–0
16 / 335 QF United States Andy Roddick 6
Loss
6–7(5–7), 2–6
Pacific Life Open
Indian Wells, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
13–19 March 2008
1R Bye
17 / 336 2R Colombia Santiago Giraldo 141
Win
6–3, 6–3
18 / 337 3R United States Donald Young 86
Win
6–1, 6–3
19 / 338 4R France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 17
Win
6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–5),7–5
20 / 339 QF United States James Blake 9
Win
7–5, 3–6, 6–3
21 / 340 SF Serbia Novak Djokovic 3
Loss
3–6, 2–6
Sony Ericsson Open
Miami, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
27 March – 9 April 2008
1R Bye
22 / 341 2R Germany Benjamin Becker 108
Win
7–5, 6–2
23 / 342 3R Germany Nicolas Kiefer 51
Win
6–2, 6–4
24 / 343 4R France Paul-Henri Mathieu 16
Win
6–4, 6–4
25 / 344 QF United States James Blake 9
Win
3–6, 6–3, 6–1
26 / 345 SF Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych 10
Win
7–6(8–6), 6–2
27 / 346 F Russia Nikolay Davydenko 4
Loss (2)
4–6, 2–6
Davis Cup, GER v/s ESP World Group Quarterfinals
Germany
Davis Cup
Hard, indoor
11 April 2008
28 / 347 QF Germany Nicolas Kiefer 47
Win
7–6(7–5), 6–0, 6–3
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Monte Carlo, Monaco
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
20–26 April 2008
1R Bye
29 / 348 2R Croatia Mario Ančić 55
Win
6–0, 6–3
30 / 349 3R Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 24
Win
6–4, 6–1
31 / 350 QF Spain David Ferrer 5
Win
6–1, 7–5
32 / 351 SF Russia Nikolay Davydenko 4
Win
6–3, 6–2
33 / 352 F Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (1)
7–5, 7–5
Open Sabadell Atlántico Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
ATP World Tour 500
Clay, outdoor
28 April – 4 May 2008
1R Bye
34 / 353 2R Italy Potito Starace 45
Win
6–4, 6–2
35 / 354 3R Spain Feliciano López 35
Win
6–4, 6–3
36 / 355 QF Argentina Juan Ignacio Chela 37
Win
6–4, 6–2
37 / 356 SF Germany Denis Gremelmayr 85
Win
6–1, 6–0
38 / 357 F Spain David Ferrer 5
Win (2)
6–1, 4–6, 6–1
Internazionali BNL d'Italia
Rome, Italy
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
5–11 May 2008
1R Bye
39 / 358 2R Spain Juan Carlos Ferrero 23
Loss
5–7, 1–6
Masters Series Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
11–17 May 2008
1R Bye
40 / 359 2R Russia Potito Starace 45
Win
6–4, 7–6(8–6)
41 / 360 3R United Kingdom Andy Murray 14
Win
6–3, 6–2
42 / 361 QF Spain Carlos Moyá 12
Win
6–1, 6–3
43 / 362 SF Serbia Novak Djokovic 3
Win
7–5, 2–6, 6–2
44 / 363 F Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (3)
7–5, 6–7(3–7), 6–3
French Open
Paris, France
Grand Slam
Clay, outdoor
25 May – 7 June 2008
45 / 364 1R Brazil Thomaz Bellucci 76
Win
7–5, 6–3, 6–1
46 / 365 2R France Nicolas Devilder 148
Win
6–4, 6–0, 6–1
47 / 366 3R Finland Jarkko Nieminen 26
Win
6–1, 6–3, 6–1
48 / 367 4R Spain Fernando Verdasco 23
Win
6–1, 6–0, 6–2
49 / 368 QF Spain Nicolás Almagro 20
Win
6–1, 6–1, 6–1
50 / 369 SF Serbia Novak Djokovic 3
Win
6–4, 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
51 / 370 F Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (4)
6–1, 6–3, 6–0
Artois Championships
London, United Kingdom
ATP World Tour 250
Grass, outdoor
9–15 June 2008
1R Bye
52 / 371 2R Sweden Jonas Björkman 102
Win
6–2, 6–2
53 / 372 3R Japan Kei Nishikori 113
Win
6–4, 3–6, 6–3
54 / 373 QF Croatia Ivo Karlović 22
Win
6–7(5–7), 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–4)
55 / 374 SF United States Andy Roddick 6
Win
7–5, 6–4
56 / 375 F Serbia Novak Djokovic 3
Win (5)
7–6(8–6), 7–5
The Championships, Wimbledon
Wimbledon, United Kingdom
Grand Slam
Grass, outdoor
23 June – 6 July 2008
57 / 376 1R Germany Andreas Beck 122
Win
6–4, 6–4, 7–6(7–0)
58 / 377 2R Latvia Ernests Gulbis 48
Win
5–7, 6–2, 7–6(7–2), 6–3
59 / 378 3R Germany Nicolas Kiefer 32
Win
7–6(7–3), 6–2, 6–3
60 / 379 4R Russia Mikhail Youzhny 17
Win
6–3, 6–3, 6–1
61 / 380 QF United Kingdom Andy Murray 11
Win
6–3, 6–2, 6–4
62 / 381 SF Germany Rainer Schüttler 94
Win
6–1, 7–6(7–3), 6–4
63 / 382 F Switzerland Roger Federer 1
Win (6)
6–4, 6–4, 6–7(5–7), 6–7(8–10), 9–7
Rogers Cup
Toronto, Canada
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
21–27 July 2008
1R Bye
64 / 383 2R Canada Jesse Levine 123
Win
6–4, 6–2
65 / 384 3R Russia Igor Andreev 26
Win
6–2, 7–6(7–1)
66 / 385 QF France Richard Gasquet 12
Win
6–7(12–14), 6–2, 6–1
67 / 386 SF United Kingdom Andy Murray 9
Win
7–6(7–2), 6–3
68 / 387 F Germany Nicolas Kiefer 37
Win (7)
6–3, 6–2
Western & Southern Open
Ohio, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
28 July – 3 August 2008
1R Bye
69 / 388 2R France Florent Serra 84
Win
6–0, 6–1
70 / 389 3R Germany Tommy Haas 42
Win
6–4, 7–6(7–0)
71 / 390 QF Ecuador Nicolás Lapentti 89
Win
7–6(7–3), 6–1
72 / 391 SF Serbia Novak Djokovic 3
Loss
1–6, 5–7
Summer Olympic Games
Beijing, China
Hard, outdoor
11–17 August 2008
73 / 392 1R Italy Potito Starace 74
Win
6–2, 3–6, 6–2
74 / 393 2R Australia Lleyton Hewitt 38
Win
6–1, 6–2
75 / 394 3R Russia Igor Andreev 23
Win
6–4, 6–2
76 / 395 QF Austria Jürgen Melzer 51
Win
6–0, 6–4
77 / 396 SF Serbia Novak Djokovic 3
Win
6–4, 1–6, 6–4
78 / 397 F Chile Fernando González 15
Win (8)
6–3, 7–6(7–2), 6–3
US Open
New York, USA
Grand Slam
Hard, outdoor
25 August – 7 September 2008
79 / 398 1R Germany Björn Phau 136
Win
7–6(7–4), 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
80 / 399 2R United States Ryler DeHeart 261
Win
6–1, 6–2, 6–4
81 / 400 3R Serbia Viktor Troicki 71
Win
6–4, 6–3, 6–0
82 / 401 4R United States Sam Querrey 55
Win
6–2, 5–7, 7–6(7–2), 6–3
83 / 402 QF United States Mardy Fish 35
Win
3–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–2
84 / 403 SF United Kingdom Andy Murray 6
Loss
2–6, 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 4–6
Davis Cup, USA v/s ESP World Group Semifinals
Spain
Davis Cup
Clay, outdoor
19–21 September 2008
85 / 404 SF United States Sam Querrey 39
Win
6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
86 / 405 SF United States Andy Roddick 8
Win
6–4, 6–0, 6–4
Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid
Madrid, Spain
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
12–18 October 2008
1R Bye
87 / 406 2R Latvia Ernests Gulbis 54
Win
7–5, 3–6, 6–3
88 / 407 3R France Richard Gasquet 14
Win
6–4, 6–2
89 / 408 QF Spain Feliciano López 40
Win
6–4, 6–4
90 / 409 SF France Gilles Simon 16
Loss
6–3, 5–7, 6–7(6–8)
BNP Paribas Open
Paris, France
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
26 October – 2 November 2008
1R Bye
91 / 410 2R France Florent Serra 63
Win
6–2, 6–4
92 / 411 3R France Gaël Monfils 16
Win
6–3, 6–2
93 / 412 QF Russia Nikolay Davydenko 6
Loss
1–6 RET

Doubles matches[edit]

Tournament Match Round Opponents Ranks Result Score
Chennai Open
Chennai, India
ATP World Tour 250
Hard, outdoor
December 31, 2007 – January 6, 2008
Partner: Spain Bartolomé Salvá Vidal
1 / 97 1R Cyprus Marcos Baghdatis
France Marc Gicquel
106
148
Loss
4–6, 4–6
ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Rotterdam, Netherlands
ATP World Tour 500
Hard, indoor
18–24 February 2008
Partner: Spain Tommy Robredo
2 / 98 1R Spain Feliciano López
Spain Fernando Verdasco
124
115
Win
7–6(7–2), 7–5
2R Sweden Simon Aspelin
Austria Julian Knowle
8
6
Loss W/O
Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships
Dubai, UAE
ATP World Tour 500
Hard, outdoor
3–9 March 2008
Partner: Spain Feliciano López
3 / 99 1R South Africa Jeff Coetzee
South Africa Wesley Moodie
24
32
Win
6–4, 7–6(7–5)
4 / 100 2R India Mahesh Bhupathi
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
18
3
Loss
1–6, 1–6
Pacific Life Open
Indian Wells, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
13–19 March 2008
Partner: Spain David Ferrer
5 / 101 1R Australia Paul Hanley
India Leander Paes
15
18
Loss
3–6, 4–6
Sony Ericsson Open
Miami, United States
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
27 March – 9 April 2008
Partner: Spain Tommy Robredo
6 / 102 1R United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
1
1
Loss
6–7(5–7), 6–3, (5–10)
Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Monte Carlo, Monaco
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Clay, outdoor
20–26 April 2008
Partner: Spain Tommy Robredo
7 / 103 1R Monaco Guillaume Couillard
Monaco Jean-Rene Lisnard
1017
304
Win
6–2, 6–1
8 / 104 2R Canada Daniel Nestor
Serbia Nenad Zimonjić
4
8
Win
5–7, 6–3, (10–3)
9 / 105 QF Czech Republic František Čermák
Germany Philipp Kohlschreiber
31
65
Win
6–7(5–7), 6–1, (10–3)
10 / 106 SF Sweden Jonas Björkman
Zimbabwe Kevin Ullyett
23
16
Win
5–7, 7–6(8–6), (10–7)
11 / 107 F India Mahesh Bhupathi
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
13
3
Win (1)
6–3, 6–3
Artois Championships
London, United Kingdom
ATP World Tour 250
Grass, outdoor
9–15 June 2008
Partner: Argentina Mariano Hood
12 / 108 1R Chile Fernando González
Ecuador Nicolás Lapentti
115
191
Loss
6–7(4–7), 5–7
Rogers Cup
Toronto, Canada
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, outdoor
21–27 July 2008
Partner: Spain Tommy Robredo
13 / 109 1R Russia Igor Andreev
Russia Nikolay Davydenko
426
302
Loss
6–3, 3–6, (7–10)
Summer Olympic Games
Beijing, China
Hard, outdoor
11–17 August 2008
Partner: Spain Tommy Robredo
14 / 110 1R Sweden Jonas Björkman
Sweden Robin Söderling
11
156
Win
6–3, 6–3
15 / 111 2R Australia Chris Guccione
Australia Lleyton Hewitt
253
634
Loss
2–6, 6–7(5–7)
Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid
Madrid, Spain
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
12–18 October 2008
Partner: Spain Carlos Moyá
16 / 112 1R United States James Blake
United States Mardy Fish
128
82
Win
4–6, 7–6(7–5), (10–5)
2R India Mahesh Bhupathi
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
11
5
Loss W/O
2008 BNP Paribas Masters
Paris, France
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Hard, indoor
26 October 26–2 November 2008
Partner: Argentina Juan Mónaco
17 / 113 1R France Paul-Henri Mathieu
France Nicolas Mahut
109
80
Win
6–2, 6–4
18 / 114 2R India Mahesh Bhupathi
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
7
5
Win
6–4, 6–2
QF South Africa Jeff Coetzee
South Africa Wesley Moodie
13
15
Loss W/O

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Rafael Nadal, Player 2008 activity, Singles". aptworldtour. 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Rafael Nadal, Player 2008 activity, Doubles". aptworldtour. 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. ^ Tignor, Steve (2015-12-03). "2008: NADAL BEATS FEDERER IN THE GREATEST MATCH OF ALL TIME". Tennis.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  4. ^ "Players | ATP Tour | Tennis". ATP Tour.
  5. ^ "Nadal survives Moya scare to reach final". Reuters. January 5, 2008.
  6. ^ "Seppi vs. Nadal, Rotterdam '08" – via www.youtube.com.
  7. ^ "Roddick beats Nadal in Dubai tournament". UPI.
  8. ^ "Greatest match of all time. SI 2008". CNN. July 9, 2008.
  9. ^ "Book excerpt: Strokes of Genius". ESPN.com.

External links[edit]