For more than two decades, a curiosity has occurred uninterruptedly on the ATP Tour, more precisely at the Masters 1000 in Madrid, competition in which The locals have planted the flag in the quarterfinals in all editions from 2002 onwards without pause, considered one of the favorites of the so-called “Spanish Army” of tennis.
The most resonant thing in this constancy lies in the absolute predominance of the Manacorí left-hander Rafael Nadalwho He appeared in 16 of those last 17 editions among the eight best of the capital tournament, after debuting in 2005 among the top entertainers to maintain regularity until 2012, an edition in which he would remain in the third round at the hands of his compatriot Fernando Verdasco, marked by the surprising innovation in blue brick dust.
In the next presentation, in 2013, Nadal would resume the path he had started by reaching the quarterfinals again continuously until 2022, proclaiming himself as the greatest historical championfollowing their respective celebrations in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017.
Although the presence of hosts in decisive instances has been a constant, only two other ambassadors have lifted the trophy therea product of the exhibitions of Juan Carlos Ferrero, in 2003, when he would beat the Chilean Nicolás Massú, and Carlos Alcarazin 2022 and 2023, first dethroning Alexander Zverev and then destroying the illusions of Jan-Lennard Struff.
