2011 Madrid Masters Final: Nadal-Djokovic XXVI

For the 26th time, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will be meeting in an ATP Tour match, the final of the 2011 Madrid Masters, with Nadal leading their career head-to-head 16-9. (Nadal leads the head-to-head with Roger Federer 16-8.) The two top players in the world have met in 7 finals, with Nadal winning the first 5 but Djokovic winning the 2 they have played in 2011. The two have met on clay 9 times with Nadal prevailing every time (Nadal now leads Federer 11-2 on clay). They have only met in one major final, at the 2010 US Open, with Nadal winning 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2.

Nadal faced Federer yesterday in the Madrid Masters semifinals and won 5-7 6-1 6-3, losing a rare set on clay. Nadal has now won 37 consecutive matches on clay. However, Djokovic has won 31-matches in a row this year on multiple surfaces, including two wins on hard courts against Nadal in Masters finals. One of these two streaks will end on Sunday. I predict it will be Djokovic's, with  Nadal winning the final in 3 tight sets.