Rafael Nadal's 5 most dominant ATP Masters 1000 tournaments

Rafael Nadal claimed a record extending 33rd ATP 1000 Masters title with a win over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday evening in Toronto. This was also his 80th career title and 50th at either a Grand Slam or an ATP 1000 Masters.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia comes next after Nadal in the race for the most number of Masters 1000 titles, having won 30 of them. He is followed by the Swiss maestro Roger Federer who has 27 in the bag.

The ATP World Tour Masters 1000 is the third highest tier of the annual men's tennis tournaments after the four Grand Slam tournament and the ATP Finals. The Masters series began in 1990 and Nadal holds the record for the most singles titles won.

The current World No. 1 has also played the most number of ATP Masters 1000 finals - 48 - followed by Roger Federer's 47 and Novak Djokovic's 44.

Currently, the following nine tournaments are part of the ATP Masters 1000 series: Indian Wells Masters, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo Masters, Madrid Open, Italian Open (Rome), Canadian Open (Montreal / Toronto), Cincinnati Masters, Paris Masters and Shanghai Masters.

Here is a list of some of the most memorable ATP Masters 1000 wins by Nadal:

1. Monte-Carlo Masters

Rafa with his record 11th Monte-Carlo Masters title

Nadal is the only male player to win a tournament 11 times. The Spaniard has done it at three different claycourt events - the Monte Carlo Masters, Roland Garros and the ATP 500 Barcelona Open.

He won the Monte-Carlo Masters for eight consecutive years from 2005-2012 and three consecutive times from 2016 to 2018. He also contested a record nine consecutive finals from 2005-2013 and 12 finals overall.

This is one of Nadal's favorite events on the ATP calendar, at which he had a 46-match winning streak from 2005-2013. He also has a very special win-loss record of 68-4 at this event.

Nadal's only four losses at the first clay Masters 1000 event of the calendar came in the third round in 2003 to Guillermo Coria, the final in 2013 to Novak Djokovic, the quarterfinals in 2014 to David Ferrer, and the semi-finals in 2015 to Novak Djokovic.

2. Rome Masters

Nadal winning the 2018 Rome Masters for the 8th time

Out of the 33 Masters titles the King of Clay has won, 24 have come on clay. It goes without saying that Nadal has dominated the clay season every year, and that clay titles hold a very special place in the 32-year-old's career.

After the Monte-Carlo Masters, Nadal's next best event is the Italian Open (Rome Masters). The Mallorcan has won a total of eight Italian Opens with 10 finals played overall, out which six finals were consecutive between 2009-2014.

The Spaniard stands alone with these records at the Rome Masters.

3. Madrid Masters

Rafael Nadal biting the Madrid Open trophy

The Madrid Open is the last claycourt Masters 1000 event of the year. Nadal has certainly dominated the Madrid Masters too, but not like the other claycourt tournaments.

The 32-year-old has won a record five titles at this event: 2005 (hard), 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017. He has also played eight finals overall in Madrid, which is another record.

4. Canada Masters

Nadal after winning his 4th title in Toronto

Nadal has shown such incredible dominance in claycourt events that it overshadows his hardcourt and grasscourt achievements.

He recently won his fourth Rogers Cup (Montreal, Canada), Canada's Masters 1000 title played on hardcourt. He had previously won the tournament in 2005, 2008 and 2013.

5. Indian Wells Masters

Rafael Nadal's comeback win at Indian wells in 2013

Nadal's comeback in 2013 is said to be one of the best comebacks in the history of tennis. He won 10 titles that year despite missing the first quarter of the calendar (including the Australian Open).

His comeback started with a spectacular win at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, which makes this tournament really special for the Spaniard. He has won this tournament for three times in his career - in 2007, 2009 and 2013.