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Rafael Nadal assesses who his most dangerous opponent is on clay

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Rafael Nadal assesses who his most dangerous opponent is on clay — Nadal is into the Madrid quarter-finals (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal set up a fascinating quarter-final tie with Dominic Thiem at the Madrid Open and he is wary just how dangerous the Austrian can be.

The world No. 1 defeated Argentinas Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-4 to advance – breaking John McEnroes record for the most consecutive sets won on a single surface along the way.

Thiem remains the last person to take a set off the Spaniard and, indeed, beat him on clay, having triumphed in Rome last season.

Since then, Nadal has gone from strength-to-strength on the surface and looks almost untouchable.

Ahead of his ninth meeting with the world No. 7, Nadal was quizzed over who he views as his most perilous opponent.

While he insists that he focuses on one match at a time, the 16-time Grand Slam champion did concede that Thiem is one of the top players on the surface, while he also gave a hat tip to Novak Djokovic as a player who has caused him major problems on the dirt.

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When asked if Thiem is his most dangerous opposition on clay, he replied: Right now, for sure, because hes the one I have to face tomorrow.

This is what we have today. After that, things we cannot see in the future. I am not saying just in front of you guys, but I say it because I feel it that way.

The most dangerous opponent is the one you have to face the next day. After that there are times where there is an opponent that perhaps is tougher, maybe some moments it was Djokovic.

epa06717042 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their first round match of the 2018 Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain, 07 May 2018. EPA/KIKO HUESCA — Djokovic reached high levels on clay (Picture: EPA/EFE)

Today its not very clear. I just try to do my part, to walk my path. I know that there are players with a lot of potential that perhaps still havent reached that level or that consistency that weve had during so many years. They truly have the potential. One day they will be very dangerous.

Tomorrow might be one of those days that Im going to play one of the best players of the world. Of course, he is one of the best players of the world because the ranking speaks for itself.

But on this surface, hes one of the most dangerous players you can face, one of the ones that have a lot of possibilities to succeed. Tomorrow is a key match in the tournament. Its one of the matches where I have to be a step ahead.

Well, I think Im prepared for that step, but I have to do it tomorrow.