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“Here I am in Rome. What happened in the past is past. Now I am here to keep trying my best in an event that I love so much,” said the world No. 4. “I had some unbelievable memories in this court. A lot of important matches in my career I played here. So just try to be ready for that.”

“Playing against [Nicolas] Almagro tomorrow always gonna be a very hard first round. He’s a great player. Last week in the first, second round, he almost win against Novak. He already won three matches here, if I am not wrong, because he’s coming from the qualifying. For me, is always dangerous. First day after Madrid, different conditions, will be a dangerous one, no?” said Nadal. “I need to be focused. I need to play my best. Let’s see if I am able to do it.”

"I think he’s [Thiem] a great player, no? He’s young enough to keep competing for the important things for the next ten years, probably, or eight years, I don’t know. Depends on him. He has a big potential. Probably his best surface is clay today, and if I have to say one tournament that he can win is Roland Garros, no? So let’s see. Hopefully not this year but let’s see.”

Nadal will play Almagro in his opening round match on Wednesday.

Rafael Nadal was up to his old tricks at the 2017 Mutua Madrid Open. He looked hungry and produced some explosive tennis on centre court. He is playing like the unbeatable Nadal on clay from the last decade. Rejuvenated, enjoying the experience and breathing new life into what were his strengths in another era. The Spaniard is enjoying the fruits of persevering through days of injury and inconsistency.

His reward was a stunning 7-6(8), 6-4 victory over Dominic Thiem to win the Spanish event for the fifth time (2005, 2010, 2013, 2014), and his 30th Masters 1000 to level Novak Djokovic. They are followed by Roger Federer (26), Ivan Lendl (22), John McEnroe (19), Jimmy Connors (17), Andre Agassi (17), Bjorn Borg (15) and Andy Murray (14).

The home player came back from 1-3 down in the first set and saved two set points in the tiebreak (forcing an error from his opponent in the first and connecting with a forehand winner in the second). In the second set he broke Thiem’s first serve, but was unable to convert a match point at 5-3 and, after saving three break points at 5-4, he took his head-to-head with the Austrian to 4-1.

The 30-year-old left-hander is back to his best. For the first time in seven years he has started a season with a record of 15-0 in his first three tournaments on clay. He did so in 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2006. And he has now done so in 2017 close to the age of 31.

2017 Mutua Madrid Open FINAL Rafael Nadal bt. Dominic Thiem  7/6(8) 6/4

Rafael Nadal won his fifth Mutua Madrid Open title and his record-tying 30th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown, matching World No. 2 Novak Djokovic for the all-time lead. 

“Today is a day to be satisfied, to be happy and to have this trophy,” Nadal said. “This is a very emotional period of the season. I really enjoy these tournaments. I just try to go for all of them. I try to compete. In Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, I did well, same here. I hope to do the same in Rome.” 

“I'm very happy for what I achieved. I think it's difficult to win three different trophies in a row on clay. They are all important championships,” Nadal said.