For nearly three decades, Guillermo Vilas was considered the most dominant clay-court player in the Open era. Recently, that proverbial torch was handed to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who has dominated Roland Garros for nearly a decade. He constructed another season for the ages last year, returning to his clay supremacy after a significant knee injury. However, Vilas produced his own iconic season in 1977:  one of the most impressive in Open era history.

1977 saw a bevy of tennis legends battling between the lines in the men's game. Future International Tennis Hall of Fame members Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, Ilie Nastase, Arthur Ashe, John Newcombe and a young John McEnroe regularly met on the Tour. However, it would be a left-hander from Argentina who would capture that season in grand fashion.

Vilas entered Roland Garros in 1977 as a No. 3 seed after early success in the season. In what would become a precursor to his summer surge, the 25-year-old ripped through the French Open draw while dropping just one set. With an emphatic exclamation point, the Argentine defeated Brian Gottfried 6-0 6-3 6-0 in the final to take his first and only French Open title. These were the beginnings of a winning streak on clay that would take nearly 30 years to surpass.

Later, after falling in the third round on the grass courts of Wimbledon, Vilas quickly rebounded and began another streak. The Buenos Aires native would proceed to win seven straight titles after that loss, including a US Open title when he defeated Jimmy Connors in a four-set final. When the smoke settled, Vilas had won 46 straight matches on multiple surfaces and 53 straight on clay. Interestingly, both streaks ended in the fall of 1977, when he retired in a match against Nastase to protest the Romanian's racquet-stringing tactic (which was later banned by the ATP). Immediately following that loss, the Argentine would run off another 28 straight victories, which included five additional titles. He would finish 1977 with 16 championships overall.

Now, Rafael Nadal has supplanted Vilas as the most dominant clay-court performer the modern era has known. He broke the Vilas clay streak in impressive manner, running his own streak to 81 straight wins before it ended in 2007. Nadal has won eight French Open titles, holds a 93 percent winning percentage on the surface, and he owns a 43-6 record in clay finals. During his career, however, Vilas would rack up 644 wins on the dirt, more than double Nadal's total so far. Also, the Argentine won 46 career titles on clay, while the Spaniard is currently at 43. But Nadal inevitably will surpass this mark.

Interestingly, a number of similarities link the two champions. Both players are left-handed and developed distinctive topspin forehands from that side. Nadal's unorthodox ball strike with extreme force, torque, and follow through creates his signature bounce and placement, driving his opponents back. While Vilas did not strike his forehand with equal intensity, he often unconventionally struck the ball from an unconventional open stance. He could consistently and accurately place the ball down the line or cross court from that stance, keeping his opponent off balance.

Both players also have benefited from exceptional footwork on the surface, using the slide to their benefit while maintaining their balance and position in the point. Vilas recently attributed the clay success of players such as Nadal, Borg, and himself to this footwork.

There is a mutual level of respect between the two champions as well. Last year, in response to Nadal's exceptional comeback season, Vilas complimented both Rafa and his coach Toni Nadal for the working relationship and trust between them. When the then-teenage Nadal broke his clay-court streak in 2006, Vilas showed respect by attending the match at Roland Garros. The Argentine also chose Mallorca as the location for his tennis academy. This island happens to be the site of Nadal's hometown, Manacor, where Vilas has visited the Spaniard, who has used his Academy to train.

During Guillermo Vilas' formidable career, he was often overshadowed by Borg and Connors. Nevertheless, he is a four-time Grand Slam champion, falling short only at Wimbledon. Early in Nadal's body of work, likewise, the youngster often found himself overlooked in favor of Roger Federer. But both men ultimately carved out historical niches for themselves.

On the clay courts where Vilas took the game to heights that were not matched for 29 years, it is unlikely that Nadal's success will be equaled in the near future, despite his recent bumps in the road.