Zeballos defeated Nadal in Viña del Mar

Chile, February 11, 2013

With the victory yesterday, the Argentine Horacio Zeballos became the third player that defeats Rafael Nadal on clay surface. The result was 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in Viña del Mar.

Zeballos was born in Mar del Plata and started playing when he was six years old. Professionally debuted at the circuit in 2003, reaching its highest ranking in 2009, when he became No. 41. However, it took nine years until he achieved his historic first ATP title defeating the best tennis player ever on clay, the Spanish Rafael Nadal.

The other two who had beaten Nadal on clay had been Roger Federer in the 1000 Hamburg Masters and the Madrid Masters 1000 and Novak Djokovic in the 1000 Madrid Masters and 1000 Rome Masters.

“Congratulations to Horacio for his great victory,” published Nadal after the final in his official Twitter account while the Argentine wrote: “What a joy, first title against one of the greatest players in history.”