ThrowbackTimes Madrid: Andy Murray destroys Rafael Nadal to lift title

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

The 15-year-old Andy Murray, a promising junior with a bright future, had arrived at Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona to improve the various elements of his game and move it to the next level before joining the professionals.

This excursion proved to be very successful, and Andy had won three Futures titles on clay in 2004 before stepping in on the higher level in 2005 when he entered the top-100. Despite having a chance to train on some of the world's best clay courts in Barcelona, Andy preferred hard and grass, and his first significant results on the Tour were related to those faster surfaces, still searching for that fine balance that would excel his clay game.

That happened in 2009 after reaching the Monte Carlo semi-final, the Madrid quarter-final and the last eight at Roland Garros, with another solid spring of 2011 when he lost in the closing stages of three notable clay events to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Three years later, Andy was the Roland Garros semi-finalist before finally advancing into the first ATP final on clay in Munich in 2015, edging Philipp Kohlschreiber in over three hours to lift the 32nd ATP crown and the first on the slowest surface.

Out of a sudden, Murray was the force to be reckoned with on clay (he would play in three big finals in 2016), proving that next week in Madrid when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final to pick up his first Masters 1000 title on clay!

Andy needed an hour and 29 minutes to dismiss the two-time defending champion 6-3, 6-2, with Nadal failing to stay on the court for an hour and a half in a clay-court defeat only for the eighth time in his career. The Briton overpowered three top-10 players en route to the title despite being 1-13 against those rivals on clay before Madrid!

Andy became the fourth player who beat Rafa in an ATP final on clay after Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Horacio Zeballos. It was Nadal's hardest loss on clay in terms of the scoreline since Bastad 2004 when he was only 18!

It was their seventh meeting on clay and the first triumph for Andy, who added that last touch he lacked to topple the great rival on his beloved surface. We have to say that this was one of the toughest springs for Nadal in a career, falling short in Monte Carlo and Barcelona before Madrid.

For the first time since 2004, Rafa failed to win an ATP title on clay in three back-to-back tournaments, and he wouldn't change that in Rome and Paris! Still, we can't take anything away from Andy, who played a brilliant match to overpower Rafa in every department.

The Briton lost just four points behind his second serve and fended off all three break chances to keep the pressure on the other side of the net, something Nadal couldn't deal with at that moment. Throughout the tournament, Murray played with aggression and determination to keep the points on his racquet, taking the ball early and returning the second serve from inside the court against every opponent.

Andy Murray toppled Rafael Nadal in the 2015 Madrid Open final.

The Spaniard served at 72%, although that didn't help him much against Andy's rock-solid returns, facing six break opportunities and losing serve three times to hand the win to his rival and continue a miserable run on clay for his standards.

The Briton earned the victory in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, serving better and hitting the first groundstroke more efficiently than Nadal, who stayed in touch in the more extended exchanges but with no impact on the outcome.

Andy meant business right from the start, winning 12 of the first 14 points to build momentum and a 3-0 advantage. Serving great, he broke Nadal when the Spaniard sent a backhand long in the second game, settling into a nice rhythm and mounting the pressure on the opponent.

Rafa got his name on the scoreboard with a forehand winner in game four, but Andy fired one of his own a few minutes later to extend the lead to 4-1. Nadal held at love in game six and was ready to compete, creating two break chances in the next game that could have boosted his options after a slow start.

Andy was not to be denied, though, winning four points in a row to get out of jail and serve for the set after an easy hold for Nadal in game eight. The Spaniard found his backhand in those moments, creating another break opportunity that Murray erased with a perfect serve & forehand combo and closed the set after Nadal's forced error.

Things were only to become more serious for Nadal in set number two, as he netted a backhand in the opening game that gave Andy an early lead. The Briton confirmed it with an ace in game two that pushed him closer to the finish line.

Rafa suffered another blow at 0-2, wasting game points and giving his serve away after a poor backhand to drift further away from the title defense. Another backhand error cost him the fourth game before finally ending his drought with an ace in game five to reduce the deficit and avoid bagel.

Andy forged a 5-1 advantage with another game full of variety and depth in his shots and earned a match point with two service winners at 5-2. Another poor return from Nadal sealed his fate in this match, and Murray started a massive celebration with Amelie Mauresmo and the rest of his team, winning his tenth match in a row on clay and lifting the second title in two weeks.