Rafael Nadal’s unwanted mark almost matched by Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils

Rafael Nadal’s career has been nothing short of historic, with the Spaniard picking up a range of records and titles along the way.

Across his time in the sport, he picked up 22 Grand Slam singles titles, including a record 14 Roland Garros crowns.

His 92 ATP titles over more than two decades on tour have also put him near the top of several all-time tennis lists.

Despite all his achievements, there is one stat attached to Nadal’s name that he probably does not look back on too fondly.

Rafael Nadal’s worst-ever ATP final loss

Nadal still holds the unusual record for the most lopsided ATP final loss, which came against Mikhail Youzhny at the Chennai Open.

He managed just 17 points in a 6-0, 6-1 defeat that stood out sharply from his usual level of play.

It is a record Nadal will be hoping does not stick with him forever, and it nearly changed hands when Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Arthur Fils in the Qatar Open final.

Fils picked up only 24 points in a one-sided 6-2, 6-1 loss to the Spaniard at the ATP 500 event.

Alcaraz and Fils’ match is the seventh most one-sided final in history, with just seven points separating the match with Nadal vs Youzhny.

Earlier in his career, he was on the positive end of that spectrum. In 2005, he won the Acapulco Open by dropping just 22 points.

Nadal beat Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-0 to claim third place on the list of most one-sided finals.

Rafael Nadal and Mikhail Youzhny reflect on strange Chennai final

Youzhny’s victory over Nadal in Chennai is still considered one of the most surprising results in tennis history, and even he was caught off guard by how the match played out.

“This victory is a present from Rafa to me. I didn’t win today, Rafa just lost the match because he couldn’t move well.

“I did not think it would be so easy. I thought he would come back strongly in the second set but once I broke him in the fourth game, I knew I only had to ensure I did not make mistakes.”

Nadal, for his part, chose to focus on Youzhny’s performance rather than dwell on his own struggles that day.

“Mikhail played unbelievable tennis and deserved to win. I will now go to Melbourne and practice for a week and hopefully I will be at my best at the Open.

“The good thing is I leave this tournament without any injury. It has been a good start to the year for me. I have had good practice,” the Spaniard stated.

Nadal bounced back at the Australian Open later that month, reaching the semi-finals before falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.

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