# 2006 Rafael Nadal tennis season

The 2006 Rafael Nadal tennis season started in February as Nadal missed the Australian Open because of a foot injury. Nadal won five singles titles in 2006.

## Hard court

In February, Nadal lost in the semifinals of the first tournament he played, the Open 13 tournament in Marseille, France. Two weeks later, he handed Roger Federer his first loss of the year in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships (in 2006, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray were the only two men who defeated Federer), thus ending Federer’s 56-match winning streak on hard courts. To complete the spring hard-court season, Nadal was upset in both the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters by James Blake, and in the second round of the Miami Masters by Carlos Moyá, who thus ended Nadal's 22-match win streak over fellow Spaniard players.

## Clay season

On European clay, Nadal won all four tournaments he entered and 24 consecutive matches. He defeated Federer in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters in four sets. The following week, he defeated Tommy Robredo in the final of the Open Sabadell Atlántico tournament in Barcelona. After a one-week break, Nadal won the Italian Masters, defeating Federer in a fifth-set tiebreaker in the final, after saving two match points and equaling Björn Borg's tally of 16 ATP titles won as a teenager. Nadal broke Argentinian Guillermo Vilas's 29-year male record of 53 consecutive clay-court match victories by beating Robin Söderling in the first round of the French Open. Vilas presented Nadal with a trophy, but commented later that Nadal's feat was less impressive than his own because Nadal's winning streak covered two years and was accomplished by adding easy tournaments to his schedule.
Nadal went on to face Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, the first-ever meeting of their historic rivalry, which Nadal won via a retirement from Djokovic after Nadal took the first two sets. He then beat Ivan Ljubičić to set up a final against Federer. The first two sets of the match were hardly competitive, as the rivals traded 6–1 sets. Nadal won the third set easily and served for the match in the fourth set before Federer broke him and forced a tiebreaker. Nadal won the tiebreaker and became the first player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam tournament final.
Nadal injured his shoulder while playing a quarterfinal match against Lleyton Hewitt at the Artois Championships, played on grass at the Queen's Club in London. Nadal was unable to complete the match, which ended his 26-match winning streak.

## Wimbledon

Nadal was seeded second at Wimbledon, but was two points from defeat against American qualifier Robert Kendrick in the second round before coming back to win in five sets. In the third round, Nadal defeated world No. 20 Andre Agassi in straight sets in Agassi's last career match at Wimbledon. Nadal also won his next three matches in straight sets, which set up his first Wimbledon final, which was against Federer, who had won this tournament the three previous years. Nadal was the first Spanish man since Manuel Santana in 1966, to reach the Wimbledon final, but Federer won the match in four sets to win his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title.

## US Open Series

During the lead up to the US Open, Nadal played the two Masters Series tournaments in North America. He was upset in the third round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto and in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters by Juan Carlos Ferrero. Nadal was seeded second at the US Open, but lost in the quarterfinals to world No. 54 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in four sets.
Nadal played only three tournaments for the remainder of the year. Joachim Johansson, ranked world No. 690, upset Nadal in the second round of the Stockholm Open. The following week, Nadal lost to Tomáš Berdych in the quarterfinals of the year's last Masters Series tournament, the Madrid Masters. During the round-robin stage of the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup, Nadal lost to James Blake but defeated Nikolay Davydenko and Robredo. Because of those two victories, Nadal qualified for the semifinals, where he lost to Federer. This was Nadal's third loss in nine career matches with Federer.

## Singles matches

| Tournament | Match | Round | Opponent | Rank | Result | Score |
| Open 13 Marseille, France ATP World Tour 250 Hard, indoor 13–19 February 2006 | 1 / 164 | 1R | Olivier Rochus | 30 | Win | 4–6, 6–2, 7–5 |
| Open 13 Marseille, France ATP World Tour 250 Hard, indoor 13–19 February 2006 | 2 / 165 | 2R | Gilles Simon | 80 | Win | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Open 13 Marseille, France ATP World Tour 250 Hard, indoor 13–19 February 2006 | 3 / 166 | QF | Paul-Henri Mathieu | 35 | Win | 7–5, 6–4 |
| Open 13 Marseille, France ATP World Tour 250 Hard, indoor 13–19 February 2006 | 4 / 167 | SF | Arnaud Clément | 65 | Loss | 6–2, 3–6, 5–7 |
| Dubai Tennis Championships Dubai, U. A. E. ATP World Tour 500 Hard, outdoor 27 February – 5 March 2006 | 5 / 168 | 1R | Paul-Henri Mathieu | 34 | Win | 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–1, 6–2 |
| Dubai Tennis Championships Dubai, U. A. E. ATP World Tour 500 Hard, outdoor 27 February – 5 March 2006 | – | 2R | Younes El Aynaoui | 211 | Win | (W/O) |
| Dubai Tennis Championships Dubai, U. A. E. ATP World Tour 500 Hard, outdoor 27 February – 5 March 2006 | 6 / 169 | QF | Tim Henman | 49 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–1)}$, 6–1 |
| Dubai Tennis Championships Dubai, U. A. E. ATP World Tour 500 Hard, outdoor 27 February – 5 March 2006 | 7 / 170 | SF | Rainer Schüttler | 98 | Win | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Dubai Tennis Championships Dubai, U. A. E. ATP World Tour 500 Hard, outdoor 27 February – 5 March 2006 | 8 / 171 | W | Roger Federer | 1 | Win (1) | 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 6–19 March 2006 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 6–19 March 2006 | 9 / 172 | 2R | Jan Hernych | 87 | Win | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 6–19 March 2006 | 10 / 173 | 3R | Mardy Fish | 294 | Win | 6–1, 6–4 |
| Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 6–19 March 2006 | 11 / 174 | 4R | Sébastien Grosjean | 22 | Win | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 6–19 March 2006 | 12 / 175 | QF | Marcos Baghdatis | 27 | Win | 7–5, 6–0 |
| Pacific Life Open Indian Wells, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 6–19 March 2006 | 13 / 176 | SF | James Blake | 14 | Loss | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Sony Ericsson Open Miami, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 20 March – 2 April 2006 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Sony Ericsson Open Miami, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 20 March – 2 April 2006 | 14 / 177 | 2R | Carlos Moyá | 35 | Loss | 6–2, 1–6, 1–6 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 15–23 April 2006 | 15 / 178 | 1R | Arnaud Clément | 56 | Win | 6–4, 6–4 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 15–23 April 2006 | 16 / 179 | 2R | Jean-Rene Lisnard | 154 | Win | 6–4, 6–1 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 15–23 April 2006 | 17 / 180 | 3R | Kristof Vliegen | 57 | Win | 6–3, 6–3 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 15–23 April 2006 | 18 / 181 | QF | Guillermo Coria | 9 | Win | 6–2, 6–1 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 15–23 April 2006 | 19 / 182 | SF | Gastón Gaudio | 8 | Win | 5–7, 6–1, 6–1 |
| Monte Carlo Masters Monte Carlo, Monaco ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 15–23 April 2006 | 20 / 183 | W | Roger Federer | 1 | Win (2) | 6–2, 6–7$^{(2–7)}$, 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 24–30 April 2006 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 24–30 April 2006 | 21 / 184 | 2R | Feliciano López | 38 | Win | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 24–30 April 2006 | 22 / 185 | 3R | Iván Navarro | 164 | Win | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 24–30 April 2006 | 23 / 186 | QF | Jarkko Nieminen | 16 | Win | 4–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 24–30 April 2006 | 24 / 187 | SF | Nicolás Almagro | 57 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–2)}$, 6–3 |
| Torneo Godo Barcelona, Spain ATP World Tour 500 Clay, outdoor 24–30 April 2006 | 25 / 188 | W | Tommy Robredo | 15 | Win (3) | 6–4, 6–4, 6–0 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 8–14 May 2006 | 28 / 189 | 1R | Carlos Moyá | 33 | Win | 6–1, 2–6, 6–2 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 8–14 May 2006 | 27 / 190 | 2R | Filippo Volandri | 46 | Win | 6–1, 6–2 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 8–14 May 2006 | 28 / 191 | 3R | Tim Henman | 70 | Win | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 8–14 May 2006 | 29 / 192 | QF | Fernando González | 9 | Win | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 8–14 May 2006 | 30 / 193 | SF | Gaël Monfils | 35 | Win | 6–2, 6–2 |
| Internazionali BNL d'Italia Rome, Italy ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Clay, outdoor 8–14 May 2006 | 31 / 194 | W | Roger Federer | 1 | Win (4) | 6–7$^{(0–7)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–4, 2–6, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 32 / 195 | 1R | Robin Söderling | 50 | Win | 6–2, 7–5, 6–1 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 33 / 196 | 2R | Kevin Kim | 116 | Win | 6–2, 6–1, 6–4 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 34 / 197 | 3R | Paul-Henri Mathieu | 32 | Win | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 35 / 198 | 4R | Lleyton Hewitt | 14 | Win | 6–2, 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 36 / 199 | QF | Novak Djokovic | 63 | Win | 6–4, 6–4 RET |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 37 / 200 | SF | Ivan Ljubičić | 4 | Win | 6–4, 6–2, 7–6$^{(9–7)}$ |
| French Open Paris, France Grand Slam Clay, outdoor 29 May – 11 June 2006 | 38 / 201 | W | Roger Federer | 1 | Win (5) | 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$ |
| Stella Artois Championships London, United Kingdom ATP World Tour 250 Grass, outdoor 12–18 June 2006 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Stella Artois Championships London, United Kingdom ATP World Tour 250 Grass, outdoor 12–18 June 2006 | 39 / 202 | 2R | Mardy Fish | 86 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–1)}$, 6–1 |
| Stella Artois Championships London, United Kingdom ATP World Tour 250 Grass, outdoor 12–18 June 2006 | 40 / 203 | 3R | Fernando Verdasco | 30 | Win | 2–6, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$ |
| Stella Artois Championships London, United Kingdom ATP World Tour 250 Grass, outdoor 12–18 June 2006 | 41 / 204 | QF | Lleyton Hewitt | 13 | Loss | 6–3, 3–6 RET |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 42 / 205 | 1R | Alex Bogdanovic | 135 | Win | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 6–4 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 43 / 206 | 2R | Robert Kendrick | 237 | Win | 6–7$^{(4–7)}$, 3–6, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$, 7–5, 6–4 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 44 / 207 | 3R | Andre Agassi | 20 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–2, 6–4 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 45 / 208 | 4R | Irakli Labadze | 166 | Win | 6–3, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 6–3 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 46 / 209 | QF | Jarkko Nieminen | 18 | Win | 6–3, 6–4, 6–4 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 47 / 210 | SF | Marcos Baghdatis | 16 | Win | 6–1, 7–5, 6–3 |
| The Championships, Wimbledon Wimbledon, United Kingdom Grand Slam Grass, outdoor 26 June – 9 July 2006 | 48 / 211 | F | Roger Federer | 1 | Loss (1) | 0–6, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 7–6$^{(7–2)}$, 3–6 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 7–13 August 2006 | 49 / 212 | 1R | Nicolás Massú | 38 | Win | 6–3, 6–2 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 7–13 August 2006 | 50 / 213 | 2R | Hyung-Taik Lee | 85 | Win | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Rogers Cup Montreal, Canada ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 7–13 August 2006 | 51 / 214 | 3R | Tomáš Berdych | 14 | Loss | 1–6, 6–3, 2–6 |
| Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Cincinnati, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 14–20 August 2006 | 52 / 215 | 1R | Sam Querrey | 178 | Win | 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 6–2, 6–3 |
| Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Cincinnati, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 14–20 August 2006 | 53 / 216 | 2R | Hyung-Taik Lee | 73 | Win | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Cincinnati, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 14–20 August 2006 | 54 / 217 | 3R | Tommy Haas | 17 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–5)}$, 6–3 |
| Western & Southern Financial Group Masters Cincinnati, United States ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, outdoor 14–20 August 2006 | 55 / 218 | QF | Juan Carlos Ferrero | 31 | Loss | 6–7$^{(2–7)}$, 6–7$^{(3–7)}$ |
| US Open New York, USA Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 28 August – 10 September 2006 | 56 / 219 | 1R | Mark Phillipoussis | 113 | Win | 6–4, 6–4, 6–4 |
| US Open New York, USA Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 28 August – 10 September 2006 | 57 / 220 | 2R | Luis Horna | 61 | Win | 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| US Open New York, USA Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 28 August – 10 September 2006 | 58 / 221 | 3R | Wesley Moodie | 82 | Win | 6–4, 7–6$^{(7–4)}$, 7–6$^{(7–5)}$ |
| US Open New York, USA Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 28 August – 10 September 2006 | 59 / 222 | 4R | Jiří Novák | 179 | Win | 6–1, 7–6$^{(7–3)}$, 6–4 |
| US Open New York, USA Grand Slam Hard, outdoor 28 August – 10 September 2006 | 60 / 223 | QF | Mikhail Youzhny | 54 | Loss | 3–6, 7–5, 6–7$^{(5–7)}$, 1–6 |
| Davis Cup, ITA v/s ESP World Group Play Offs Spain Davis Cup Clay, outdoor 18–24 September 2006 | 61 / 224 | RR | Andreas Seppi | 69 | Win | 6–0, 6–4, 6–3 |
| Davis Cup, ITA v/s ESP World Group Play Offs Spain Davis Cup Clay, outdoor 18–24 September 2006 | 62 / 225 | RR | Filippo Volandri | 38 | Win | 3–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3 |
| If Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Hard, indoor 9–15 October 2006 | 63 / 226 | 1R | Raemon Sluiter | 90 | Win | 6–4, 6–2 |
| If Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden ATP World Tour 250 Hard, indoor 9–15 October 2006 | 64 / 227 | 2R | Joachim Johansson | 690 | Loss | 4–6, 6–7$^{(4–7)}$ |
| Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 16–22 October 2006 | – | 1R | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 16–22 October 2006 | 65 / 228 | 2R | Mardy Fish | 54 | Win | 6–4, 6–2 |
| Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 16–22 October 2006 | 66 / 229 | 3R | Tommy Haas | 13 | Win | 6–4, 6–3 |
| Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid Madrid, Spain ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Hard, indoor 16–22 October 2006 | 67 / 230 | QF | Tomáš Berdych | 11 | Loss | 3–6, 6–7$^{(6–8)}$ |
| Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, China Year-end Championships Hard, indoor 13–19 November 2006 | 68 / 231 | RR | James Blake | 8 | Loss | 4–6, 6–7$^{(0–7)}$ |
| Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, China Year-end Championships Hard, indoor 13–19 November 2006 | 69 / 232 | RR | Tommy Robredo | 6 | Win | 7–6$^{(7–2)}$, 6–2 |
| Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, China Year-end Championships Hard, indoor 13–19 November 2006 | 70 / 233 | RR | Nikolay Davydenko | 3 | Win | 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 |
| Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, China Year-end Championships Hard, indoor 13–19 November 2006 | 71 / 234 | SF | Roger Federer | 1 | Loss | 4–6, 5–7 |

## Year end ranking

Nadal went on to become the first player since Andre Agassi in 1994–95 to finish the year as the world No. 2 in consecutive years.