Forget Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger, there was nothing scarier than standing across the court from these tennis legends during some of the most dominant streaks in the sport\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Seeing Rafael Nadal\u2019s name when the clay season rolled around, or Martina Navratilova\u2019s name in general during the 80s, frightened many players on tour as the two set a few of tennis\u2019 all-time greatest records, which still seem untouchable to this day.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the scariest streaks from the ATP and WTA Tours.<\/p>\n
Nadal\u2019s Clay-Court Reign<\/p>\n
Nadal didn\u2019t earn the name \u201cthe King of Clay\u201d<\/a> for no reason. The Spaniard\u2019s rule began in 2005, when the then 18-year-old won Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome before raising his maiden Grand Slam trophy at Roland-Garros, two days after his 19th birthday.<\/p>\n Nadal\u2019s reign on the dirt lasted for two more years as the 22-time major titlist remained undefeated for 81 matches, the longest single-surface win streak in ATP singles history. Over that span, Nadal won 13 consecutive clay-court titles, including three-straight in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome, plus back-to-back Roland-Garros triumphs.<\/p>\n Roger Federer eventually put an end to Nadal\u2019s run in the 2007 Hamburg Masters final but that didn\u2019t stop the Spainard from securing his third-straight French Open title just weeks later.\u00a0<\/p>\n His reign in Monte-Carlo carried on, though, as Nadal went on to win 46 matches in a row at the event \u2013 the longest streak at a single tournament in the Open Era \u2013 and claimed eight-consecutive titles. Nadal finished his career with 63 clay-court trophies, winning 14 at Roland-Garros \u2013 the most by a player at a Grand Slam.<\/p>\n Read also: Novak Djokovic\u2019s Three-Year Sunshine Double Dominance<\/a><\/p>\n Navratilova\u2019s 1984 Season<\/p>\n Navratilova was virtually unplayable for much of her career, but that statement especially rings true when looking back at her 1984 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n After beginning the year with a runner-up finish in Oakland, the 18-time Grand Slam champion wouldn\u2019t lose another match, let alone a final, for 12 months. Navratilova won 74 matches in a row \u2013 the most by a singles player in the Open Era \u2013 and dropped just seven sets during that course.<\/p>\n The American won 13-consecutive titles during her record-setting streak, highlighted by triumphs at Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Navratilova\u2019s run came to a shocking end in the Australian Open semifinals, leaving the world No. 1 two-wins short of the Calendar Grand Slam.<\/p>\n It was dominant displays like in 1984 that led Navratilova to 167 career singles titles, which still stands as an Open Era record for the most by any player.<\/p>\n