Rafael Nadal won 81 consecutive clay-court matches from 2005 to 2007.
The streak began on April 4, 2005, and ended on May 22, 2007, when Roger Federer defeated Nadal in the Hamburg Masters final. It remains the longest single-surface winning streak in the men’s Open Era, a record that captures Nadal’s extraordinary dominance on clay during the middle of the 2000s.
During the run, Nadal won 13 consecutive clay-court titles, including three straight victories at each of the Monte-Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, and Rome Masters. He also defeated Federer five times during the streak, showing that the record was built against elite opposition as well as lower-ranked players.
The phrase “from 2005 to 2007” describes the span of the streak, not 81 wins in a calendar year. Nadal’s run covered more than two seasons and included matches at several tournaments. It is also distinct from his French Open records: the 81 victories were across all clay events, while his Paris achievements concern one specific Grand Slam.