KEY BISCAYNE, FL - APRIL 03: Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates match point over Rafael Nadal of Spain in the men's final during the NASDAQ-100 Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on April ...

S eventeen years ago, Rafael Nadal became the 24th world no. 1 in ATP history. On August 18, 2008, the 22-year-old ended ...

160: Nadal was ranked No. 2 in the world behind Federer for a record 160 straight weeks from July 2005 until August 2008 when Nadal overtook Fed for the top spot.

As Rafael Nadal prepares to play what may be his final Roland Garros, we look back at the 10 matches that made him the undisputed King of Clay. MATCH 4: 2005 Roland Garros, semifinal: Nadal d.

David Ferrer, 2013 No. 4: Venus Williams d. Jennifer Capriati, 2001 No. 3: Pete Sampras d. Gustavo Kuerten, 2000 No. 2: Serena Williams d. Justine Henin, 2007 No. 1: Roger Federer d. Rafael Nadal ...

Top-seeded Switzerland's Roger Federer, left, smiles to Spain's Rafael Nadal after their semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament, at the Roland Garros stadium, Friday June 3, 2005 in ...

Nadal stood 5-0 on clay against Federer before Federer beat him May 20 in the final at Hamburg, Germany. Nadal beat Federer in the 2005 French Open semifinals, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Federer also fell victim to Rafael Nadal during the semifinals of the 2005 French Open. That was it. He had won every other match he played.

Back then, the big major speedbump to Nadal’s title came in the semifinals when he faced top seed Roger Federer. Nadal ended up winning that match in straight sets (6-2, 7-6, 6-3) and then went on to ...