3 times Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic 6-0 in a set
Rafael Nadal might not have maintained a stranglehold over the World No. 1 spot like Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but the Spaniard dominated the competition in other ways. No one has beaten a World No. 1 player more times than the 21-time Grand Slam champion, who has recorded 22 wins against players at the summit of the rankings.
While the Mallorcan has beaten Djokovic nine times in this scenario, he has scored 13 victories over Federer. Interestingly, the Spaniard has also bageled both Djokovic and Federer when they were World No. 1.
The 35-year-old is at the top of the list of players who have managed to defeat a World No. 1 6-0 in a set, doing so on three occasions.
Without further ado, here is a look at all three of the instances mentioned above:
#1 2008 Roland Garros final: Rafael Nadal vs Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal won his fourth straight title run in Paris in 2008. More impressively, he achieved the feat without dropping a set.
On this day in 2008
Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the Roland-Garros final dropping just 4 games in 1 hour and 48 minutes #Ruthless https://t.co/pYbwTaK5wV
The Mallorcan faced Roger Federer in the final, the same man he had vanquished in the previous two finals in Paris. While the Spaniard was the favorite to take the title this time around as well, the manner in which he did so was unexpected.
After taking the first two sets 6-1, 6-3, the former World No. 1 stepped up his game in the third to take it 6-0. The defeat marked the Swiss' worst-ever loss at a Grand Slam.
#2 2019 Rome Masters: Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic
Defending champion Rafael Nadal took on top seed Novak Djokovic in the final of the 2019 Rome Masters in a repeat of the previous year's semifinal. Nadal emerged victorious once again, only this time the Spaniard threw in a bagel for good measure.
On This Day, Last Year.
Rafael Nadal Bagels Novak Djokovic and Celerbates his 9th
Rome Title on May 19, 2019 in Rome, Italy https://t.co/4gqp1P6GqT
The Mallorcan took the first set 6-0, but ended up losing the second 6-4. He stepped things up in the third, securing it 6-1 to notch up his ninth title at the tournament and a then-record 34th Masters 1000 triumph.
#3 2020 Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic
The 2020 Roland Garros was historic in more ways than one for Rafael Nadal. In addition to racking up a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam, the World No. 4 won the tournament without dropping a set.
He also became the first player to win 100 matches at the French Open, and facing Novak Djokovic in the final, denied the Serb the Double Career Slam in his first attempt.
2005
🏆 2005
🏆 2006
🏆 2007
🏆 2008
🏆 2010
🏆 2011
🏆 2012
🏆 2013
🏆 2014
🏆 2017
🏆 2018
🏆 2019
🏆 2020
Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 to win Roland Garros for a 13th time. Unbelievable. https://t.co/kLjOjnvKFN
The Serb came into the clash after a marathon five-setter against fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals, and his exhaustion was evident. The 35-year-old made good use of the opportunity and broke three times to take the first set 6-0. Although the World No. 1 recovered a little as the match progressed, he proved no match for the Spaniard and lost 6-0, 6-2, 7-5.