The last 23 times the ‘big 4’ have taken part in one tournament, one of them has gone on to win the title. With the top 3 seeds Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray being shown the door before the semi-finals, the onus was on the last remaining member of the top players, in world no. 5 Rafael Nadal to maintain the dominance and winning streak of the ‘the big 4’ of tennis.

In order to do that, the Spaniard would have to overcome Federer’s compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka, who was playing his first Masters 1000 final since 2008. On the face of it, it was not a tough ask. Nadal had played the Swiss 8 times in his storied career and won every single time. Furthermore, it would once again be a mismatch between Wawrinka’s single handed backhand and the 5th seed’s looping top spin forehand a battle that even 17 time Slam winner Roger Federer has struggled to win.

In a rematch of the 2013 Miami Masters final, the top two women in the world faced off against each other for the crown of Madrid champion. There was a lot more than just a title at stake as Maria Sharapova faced off against top seed and defending champion Serena Williams with the world no.1 ranking up for grabs.

With the no. 2 seed managing to get her ‘first set’ off the American in all almost 5 years at the Sony Open, things were looking up and perhaps, there was a sense that Sharapova could reverse a very lopsided 2-12 head to head record against the legendary American. Since her devastating shoulder injury the world no.2 has returned as a very competent clay court player and had her best chance to beat Serena on the red clay of Madrid, a surface on which she boasted of a 25 match winning streak, running back to last year’s French Open.

The legendary 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal hasn't dominated the Madrid Masters in quite so similar a vein as he has the rest of the summer clay court season over the years, and the Spanish matador appeared to be on the verge of crashing out of this year's event when he went down a set and a break to compatriot David Ferrer, but Nadal's never say die attitude came to the fore once again as he battled back to win the second set in a tiebreak before romping to victory in the final set.

Nadal and Ferrer, two out of the top three seeds remaining in the Mutua Madrid Masters following the shock early exits of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, did battle in the quarter-finals of their local event with the latter seeded higher than his more illustrious compatriot, who was still working his way back to form and fitness.

The seeds continued to topple at the 2013 Madrid Masters as world no.2 and defending champion Roger Federer joined his arch rival Novak Djokovic in the ‘upsets’ category after his defeat at the hands of Japan’s Kei Nishikori in three sets on Thursday.  5th seed Rafael Nadal, however, was in his usual ‘king of clay’ mode and dominated Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 to set up an all Spanish quarterfinal against 4th seed David Ferrer, who came through in three hard fought sets against German Tommy Haas.

The Swiss Maestro’s swift dismissal of Radek Stepanek in the 2nd round gave a sign that he had returned to tennis without any ring rust. That belief proved to be misplaced as he was shown the door by youngster Nishikori in 95 minutes 4-6, 6-1, 2-6.

Following Novak Djokovic’s exit on Tuesday, the top players were in damage control on day 3 of the 2013 Mutua Madrid Masters. Leading the way was two time champion Rafael Nadal, who saw off Frenchman Benoit Paire in two easy sets 6-3, 6-4. ‘Comeback player of 2012’ Tommy Haas continued from his straight set thrashing of Andreas Seppi to defeat Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo 6-3, 7-5. 4th seed David Ferrer, 6th seed Tomas Berdych and 7th seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga were the other members of the top 10 to stay in the hunt for the Masters 1000 title.

5th seed Rafael Nadal seemed totally unruffled by the seeding controversy that he finds himself mired in at the upcoming French Open and decided to let his racquet do the talking as he edged out Paire in 80 minutes to move into the third round. In a lopsided match, the Spaniard won close to 80% of his first serve points and looked to have almost returned to his great form of previous seasons as he chased down the ball at both ends of the court.

Rafael Nadal's supremacy over the principality of Monte Carlo might have ended last weekend, but the Spanish legend regained some pride by lifting his 8th title at Barcelona, beating compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3 in a routine final. The Men's doubles final was a considerably more entertaining affair with Canadian Daniel Nestor and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden going down to Bruno Soares of Brazil and Alexander Peya from Austria 5-7, 7-6(7), 10-4.

Almagro, looking for his first win against Nadal in 10 meetings, raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set courtesy of a double break, but then lost 6 of the next 7 games as Nadal stormed back with authority to clinch the first set.