Roger Federer: Rafael Nadal is still man to beat this clay season
Swiss tennis superstartar Roger Federer has a high opinion of Dominic Thiem's clay-court game but says Rafael Nadal is still the man to beat on the slowest tennis surface this clay season.
Federer, 37, survived a tough Gael Monfils as he edged out the Frenchman 6-0 4-6 7-6 (3) to set up a Madrid Masters quarter-final clash against Thiem.
"He (Thiem) has been playing great. Beating Rafa in Barcelona is a feat itself. But Nadal is still the man to beat in this clay season, not Dominic," Federer opinioned.
Thiem, who suffered a surprise Monte Carlo Masters round two loss, improved the following week as he won the Barcelona Open title.
Thiem's run to the Barcelona title included a straight-set semi-final win over 11-time French Open champion Nadal.
Nadal, who lost a total of two matches on clay in the past two clay season, has already been beaten twice on the dirt this season.
The Spaniard lost to Fabio Fognini in the Monte Carlo semi-final before he was beaten by Thiem in Barcelona respectively.
Nadal is now targeting to clinch his first clay title this season in Madrid, where he is set for a quarter-final meeting against Stan Wawrinka.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2Yl1xU4
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