'I gave my best against Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer in Madrid 2009,' said Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal will seek the sixth Madrid Open title this week and the first since 2017, hoping to celebrate in front of the home fans as he did in Barcelona.

Recalling the previous Caja Magica campaigns, Rafa mentioned that thrilling 2009 event, the first at the new venue and on clay. The Spaniard struggled with a knee injury (he would suffer an early Roland Garros soon after that) and still gave his best against Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the semis and the title clash.

In one of the greatest best-of-three matches of all time, Nadal ousted Novak Djokovic 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in four hours and three minutes, fending off three match points in the deciding set tie break to set the title clash against Roger Federer. Novak gave his everything in seeking the first victory over Rafa on clay, winning five points more and failing to make that extra push and cross the finish line first. The Serb played against only two break chances, losing serve once and scoring two breaks to follow Nadal's pace.

Novak won the opening set in style and created two break chances at 4-4 in the second set that could have sent him over the top. Rafa fended them off and did the same at 5-5 with another break chance to stay alive, winning the tie break 7-5 to force a decider. They traded breaks in the final set's fourth and fifth games and stayed neck and neck until the tie break, which went down to the wire. Nadal saved those three match points and stole the breaker 11-9 to survive and move into the final.

Despite giving his best, Rafa suffered a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Roger Federer in the final, unable to recover following that epic clash against Novak just a day earlier.