# 2005 Rafael Nadal tennis season

The 2005 Rafael Nadal tennis season is regarded as one of the greatest seasons of all time by a teenager. Nadal won a career-best 11 singles titles, including then-season-record 4 Masters 1000 titles and his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open on his first attempt, making him the first teenager since Pete Sampras (1990 US Open) to win a major. He finished the year with 79 calendar match wins, the most by any teenager in ATP Tour history, and the world No. 2 ranking. He was awarded the ATP Most Improved Player of the Year award.

## Australian Open

At the 2005 Australian Open, Nadal lost in the fourth round to eventual runner-up Lleyton Hewitt.

## Hard court

Nadal reached the final of the 2005 Miami Masters, and despite being two points from a straight-sets victory, he was defeated in five sets by Roger Federer.

## Clay court

Nadal dominated the 2005 clay court season. He won 24 consecutive singles matches, which broke Andre Agassi's Open Era record of consecutive match wins for a male teenager. Nadal won the Torneo Conde de Godó in Barcelona and beat 2004 French Open runner-up Guillermo Coria in the finals of the 2005 Monte Carlo Masters and the 2005 Rome Masters. During the Rome quarterfinals against Radek Štěpánek, Nadal hit what is considered by many as the greatest shot of his career, a no-look, running passing shot near the net. These victories raised his ranking to world No. 5 and made him one of the favorites at his career-first French Open. On his 19th birthday, Nadal defeated Federer in the 2005 French Open semifinals, as one of only four players who defeated the world No. 1 that year (along with Marat Safin, Richard Gasquet, and David Nalbandian). Two days later, he defeated Mariano Puerta in the final, becoming the second male player after Mats Wilander to win the French Open on his first attempt. He also became the first male teenager to win a Grand Slam singles title since Pete Sampras won the 1990 US Open at age 19. Winning the French Open improved Nadal's ranking to world No. 3.

## Grass court

Three days after his victory in Paris, Nadal's 24-match winning streak was snapped in the first round of the grass court Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, where he lost to the German Alexander Waske. He then lost in the second round of 2005 Wimbledon to Gilles Müller of Luxembourg.

## Summer hard court

Immediately after Wimbledon, Nadal won 16 consecutive matches and three consecutive tournaments, bringing his ranking to world No. 2 on 25 July 2005. Nadal started his North American summer hard-court season by defeating Agassi in the final of the 2005 Canada Masters, but lost in the first round of the 2005 Cincinnati Masters. Nadal was seeded second at the 2005 US Open, where he was upset in the third round by world No. 49 James Blake in four sets.
In September, he defeated Coria in the final of the China Open in Beijing and won both of his Davis Cup matches against Italy. In October, he won his fourth ATP Masters Series title of the year, defeating Ivan Ljubičić in the final of the 2005 Madrid Masters. He then suffered a foot injury and was diagnosed with Mueller–Weiss syndrome, which prevented him from competing at the Paris Masters and the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup.
Both Nadal and Federer won eleven singles titles and four ATP Masters Series titles in 2005. Nadal broke Mats Wilander's previous teenage record of nine in 1983. Eight of Nadal's titles were on clay, and the remainder were on hard courts. Nadal won 79 matches, second only to Federer's 81.

## Singles Matches

| Tournament | Match | Round | Opponent | Rank | Result | Score |
| Qatar Open Doha, Qatar ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 3–9 January 2005 | 1 / 75 | 1R | Mikhail Youzhny | 16 | Win | 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Qatar Open Doha, Qatar ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 3–9 January 2005 | 2 / 76 | 2R | Fernando Verdasco | 36 | Win | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Qatar Open Doha, Qatar ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 3–9 January 2005 | 3 / 77 | QF | Ivan Ljubičić | 22 | Loss | 2–6, 7–6$^{(3–7)}$, 3–6 |
| Heineken Open Auckland, New Zealand ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 10–16 January 2005 | 4 / 78 | 1R | Dominik Hrbatý | 20 | Loss | 3–6 RET |
| Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 17–30 January 2005 | 5 / 79 | 1R | Julien Benneteau | 65 | Win | 6–0, 6–4, 6–2 |
| Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 17–30 January 2005 | 6 / 80 | 2R | Mikhail Youzhny | 15 | Win | 6–1, 4–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–3 |
| Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 17–30 January 2005 | 7 / 81 | 3R | Bobby Reynolds | 283 | Win | 6–1, 6–1, 6–3 |
| Australian Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 17–30 January 2005 | 8 / 82 | 4R | Lleyton Hewitt | 3 | Loss | 5–7, 6–3, 6–1, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$, 2–6 |
| ATP Buenos Aires Buenos aires, Argentina ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 7–13 February 2005 | 9 / 83 | 1R | Agustín Calleri | 61 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–2)}$, 6–3 |
| ATP Buenos Aires Buenos aires, Argentina ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 7–13 February 2005 | 10 / 84 | 2R | Potito Starace | 66 | Win | 6–1, 6–3 |
| ATP Buenos Aires Buenos aires, Argentina ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 7–13 February 2005 | 11 / 85 | QF | Gastón Gaudio | 8 | Loss | 6–0, 0–6, 1–6 |
| Brasil Open São Paulo, Brazil ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 15–20 February 2005 | 12 / 86 | 1R | José Acasuso | 55 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–1)}$, 6–3 |
| Brasil Open São Paulo, Brazil ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 15–20 February 2005 | 13 / 87 | 2R | Álex Calatrava | 86 | Win | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Brasil Open São Paulo, Brazil ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 15–20 February 2005 | 14 / 88 | QF | Agustín Calleri | 60 | Win | 6–2, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–4 |
| Brasil Open São Paulo, Brazil ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 15–20 February 2005 | 15 / 89 | SF | Ricardo Mello | 56 | Win | 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| Brasil Open São Paulo, Brazil ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 15–20 February 2005 | 16 / 90 | W | Alberto Martín | 61 | Win (1) | 6–0, 6–7$^{(2–7)}$, 6–1 |
| Abierto Mexicano Telcel Acapulco, Mexico ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 21–27 February 2005 | 17 / 91 | 1R | Álex Calatrava | 81 | Win | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Abierto Mexicano Telcel Acapulco, Mexico ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 21–27 February 2005 | 18 / 92 | 2R | Santiago Ventura | 77 | Win | 7–6, 6–2 |
| Abierto Mexicano Telcel Acapulco, Mexico ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 21–27 February 2005 | 19 / 93 | QF | Guillermo Cañas | 12 | Win | 7–5, 6–3 |
| Abierto Mexicano Telcel Acapulco, Mexico ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 21–27 February 2005 | 20 / 94 | SF | Mariano Puerta | 74 | Win | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Abierto Mexicano Telcel Acapulco, Mexico ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 21–27 February 2005 | 21 / 95 | W | Albert Montañés | 95 | Win (2) | 6–1, 6–0 |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | 22 / 96 | 2R | Rainer Schüttler | 39 | Win | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | 23 / 97 | 3R | Fernando Verdasco | 45 | Win | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | 24 / 98 | 4R | Ivan Ljubičić | 14 | Win | 6–4, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–3 |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | 25 / 99 | QF | Thomas Johansson | 27 | Win | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | 26 / 100 | SF | David Ferrer | 44 | Win | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Miami Open Key Biscayne, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 21 March – 3 April 2005 | 27 / 101 | F | Roger Federer | 1 | Loss (1) | 6–2, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 3–6, 1–6 |
| Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana Valencia, Spain ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 April 2005 | 28 / 102 | 1R | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 68 | Win | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana Valencia, Spain ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 April 2005 | 29 / 103 | 2R | Guillermo García López | 80 | Win | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana Valencia, Spain ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 April 2005 | 30 / 104 | QF | Igor Andreev | 47 | Loss | 5–7, 2–6 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 11–17 April 2005 | 31 / 105 | 1R | Gaël Monfils | 106 | Win | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 11–17 April 2005 | 32 / 106 | 2R | Xavier Malisse | 38 | Win | 6–0, 6–3 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 11–17 April 2005 | 33 / 107 | 3R | Olivier Rochus | 42 | Win | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 11–17 April 2005 | 34 / 108 | QF | Gastón Gaudio | 6 | Win | 6–3, 6–0 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 11–17 April 2005 | 35 / 109 | SF | Richard Gasquet | 101 | Win | 6–7$^{(6–8)}$, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 11–17 April 2005 | 36 / 110 | W | Guillermo Coria | 9 | Win (3) | 6–3, 6–1, 0–6, 7–5 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 April 2005 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 April 2005 | 37 / 111 | 2R | Gilles Müller | 64 | Win | 6–0, 6–2 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 April 2005 | 38 / 112 | 3R | Dominik Hrbatý | 25 | Win | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 April 2005 | 39 / 113 | QF | Agustín Calleri | 99 | Win | 6–2, 3–0 RET |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 April 2005 | 40 / 114 | SF | Radek Štěpánek | 22 | Win | 7–5, 6–2 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 April 2005 | 41 / 115 | W | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 58 | Win (4) | 6–1, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–3 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 2–8 May 2005 | 42 / 116 | 1R | Mikhail Youzhny | 26 | Win | 6–0, 6–2 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 2–8 May 2005 | 43 / 117 | 2R | Victor Hănescu | 85 | Win | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 2–8 May 2005 | 44 / 118 | 3R | Guillermo Cañas | 13 | Win | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 2–8 May 2005 | 45 / 119 | QF | Radek Štěpánek | 17 | Win | 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 2–8 May 2005 | 46 / 120 | SF | David Ferrer | 25 | Win | 4–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 2–8 May 2005 | 47 / 121 | W | Guillermo Coria | 11 | Win (5) | 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 7–6$^{(8–6)}$ |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 48 / 122 | 1R | Lars Burgsmüller | 96 | Win | 6–1, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–1 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 49 / 123 | 2R | Xavier Malisse | 46 | Win | 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 50 / 124 | 3R | Richard Gasquet | 31 | Win | 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 51 / 125 | 4R | Sébastien Grosjean | 24 | Win | 6–4, 3–6, 6–0, 6–3 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 52 / 126 | QF | David Ferrer | 21 | Win | 7–5, 6–2, 6–0 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 53 / 127 | SF | Roger Federer | 1 | Win | 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 23 May – 5 June 2005 | 54 / 128 | W | Mariano Puerta | 37 | Win (6) | 6–7$^{(6–8)}$, 6–3, 6–1, 7–5 |
| Gerry Weber Open Halle, Germany ATP World Tour 250 Grass, outdoor 6–12 June 2005 | 55 / 129 | 1R | Alexander Waske | 147 | Loss | 6–4, 5–7, 3–6 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 20 June – 3 July 2005 | 56 / 130 | 1R | Vincent Spadea | 39 | Win | 6–4, 6–3, 6–2 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 20 June – 3 July 2005 | 57 / 131 | 2R | Gilles Müller | 69 | Loss | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 4–6 |
| Swedish Open Båstad, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 July 2005 | 58 / 132 | 1R | Juan Mónaco | 66 | Win | 6–1, 6–1 |
| Swedish Open Båstad, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 July 2005 | 59 / 133 | 2R | Alberto Martín | 50 | Win | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Swedish Open Båstad, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 July 2005 | 60 / 134 | QF | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 31 | Win | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Swedish Open Båstad, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 July 2005 | 61 / 135 | SF | Tommy Robredo | 20 | Win | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Swedish Open Båstad, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Clay, outdoor 4–10 July 2005 | 62 / 136 | W | Tomáš Berdych | 20 | Win (7) | 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 |
| Stuttgart Open Stuttgart, Germany ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 July 2005 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Stuttgart Open Stuttgart, Germany ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 July 2005 | 63 / 137 | 2R | Hugo Armando | 167 | Win | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Stuttgart Open Stuttgart, Germany ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 July 2005 | 64 / 138 | 3R | Fernando Verdasco | 58 | Win | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Stuttgart Open Stuttgart, Germany ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 July 2005 | 65 / 139 | QF | Tomáš Zíb | 57 | Win | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Stuttgart Open Stuttgart, Germany ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 July 2005 | 66 / 140 | SF | Jarkko Nieminen | 66 | Win | 6–2, 7–5 |
| Stuttgart Open Stuttgart, Germany ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 18–24 July 2005 | 67 / 141 | W | Gastón Gaudio | 13 | Win (8) | 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 8–14 August 2005 | 68 / 142 | 1R | Carlos Moyá | 32 | Win | 6–3, 6–7, 6–3 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 8–14 August 2005 | 69 / 143 | 2R | Ricardo Mello | 56 | Win | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 8–14 August 2005 | 70 / 144 | 3R | Sébastien Grosjean | 34 | Win | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 8–14 August 2005 | 71 / 145 | QF | Mariano Puerta | 11 | Win | 6–3, 6–1 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 8–14 August 2005 | 72 / 146 | SF | Paul-Henri Mathieu | 63 | Win | 6–4, 7–5 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 8–14 August 2005 | 73 / 147 | W | Andre Agassi | 7 | Win (9) | 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 |
| Cincinnati Masters Ohio, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 15–21 August 2005 | 74 / 148 | 1R | Tomáš Berdych | 36 | Loss | 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 2–6, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$ |
| US Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 29 August – 11 September 2005 | 75 / 149 | 1R | Bobby Reynolds | 132 | Win | 6–3, 6–3, 6–4 |
| US Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 29 August – 11 September 2005 | 76 / 150 | 2R | Scoville Jenkins | 352 | Win | 6–4, 7–5, 6–4 |
| US Open Melbourne, Australia Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 29 August – 11 September 2005 | 77 / 151 | 3R | James Blake | 49 | Loss | 4–6, 6–4, 3–6, 1–6 |
| China Open Beijing, China ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 12–18 September 2005 | 78 / 152 | 1R | Jimmy Wang | 100 | Win | 6–2, 6–4 |
| China Open Beijing, China ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 12–18 September 2005 | 79 / 153 | 2R | Justin Gimelstob | 95 | Win | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 |
| China Open Beijing, China ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 12–18 September 2005 | 80 / 154 | QF | Peter Wessels | 115 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 6–2 |
| China Open Beijing, China ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 12–18 September 2005 | 81 / 155 | SF | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 23 | Win | 6–4, 6–4 |
| China Open Beijing, China ATP World Tour 250 Hard, outdoor 12–18 September 2005 | 82 / 156 | W | Guillermo Coria | 8 | Win (10) | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2 |
| Davis Cup, ITA v/s ESP World Group Play Offs Italy Davis Cup Clay, outdoor 19–25 September 2005 | 83 / 157 | RR | Daniele Bracciali | 69 | Win | 6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
| Davis Cup, ITA v/s ESP World Group Play Offs Italy Davis Cup Clay, outdoor 19–25 September 2005 | 84 / 158 | RR | Andreas Seppi | 78 | Win | 6–1, 6–2, 5–7, 6–4 |
| Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 17–23 October 2005 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 17–23 October 2005 | 85 / 159 | 2R | Victor Hănescu | 42 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–3 |
| Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 17–23 October 2005 | 86 / 160 | 3R | Tommy Robredo | 17 | Win | 6–2, 6–4 |
| Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 17–23 October 2005 | 87 / 161 | QF | Radek Štěpánek | 14 | Win | 7–6$^{(11–9)}$, 6–4 |
| Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 17–23 October 2005 | 88 / 162 | SF | Robby Ginepri | 21 | Win | 7–5, 7–6$^{(7–1)}$ |
| Madrid Open Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 17–23 October 2005 | 89 / 163 | W | Ivan Ljubičić | 7 | Win (11) | 3–6, 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |