Rafael Nadal is glad he won a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title the hard way, after defeating Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 in an error-strewn final Sunday.
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“It’s a very important week for me, being in a final here again in Monte-Carlo, winning against very tough opponents”.
“I had a tough season last year, but I’ve had better preparation this year – even with a tough start to the season”, Nadal said. It took him 2 hours, 46 minutes to top Monfils.
Defeating Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 in an enthralling final on Court Ranier III, with H.S.H.
Monfils vs Nadal final on Sunday.
The Scot won the opening set in 49 minutes with a single break of Nadal, but could not carry on after being broken at the start of the second set.
“It was a pleasure to play back here again and in a final”.
Elsewhere, crowds welcomed newly-crowned Monte Carlo Masters champion and eight-time Barcelona Open victor Rafael Nadal as he arrived at the club.
It was Nadal’s first Masters-level title in nearly two years and some much-needed confidence approaching the French Open.
“You can disagree, but no respect, I cannot accept that”, Dumusois said.
“I expect an enormous match, a huge match”.
“I hope I can have a good tournament and take advantage of some players arriving a little exhausted after playing in the past few weeks”. Needless to say, one of the favorites of the tournament Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the second round.
Nadal’s schedule could also affect his bid for a 10 French Open title next month, with the Spaniard set join two competitions before hitting the clay-court in Paris.
In their previous four contests on clay, Monfils had lost in straight sets and never taken more than three games off Nadal, dating back to their first-ever career encounter here in the second round in 2005.
“Stan today, I think the last three games of the first set, that’s the only moment that he didn’t play well”.
The major turning point came when Nadal broke to lead 4-3 after Murray missed an easy smash at the net, allowing Nadal to pass him down the line. It was the Spaniard’s 68th career title in 100 career finals, and 48th on clay, just one behind record holder Guillermo Vilas’s mark.
Murray’s game went into collapse in the third set as he trailed 5-1 before his futile late rally.
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The tide probably turned in the third round, when Nadal saved 15 of 16 break points to down Dominic Thiem, the man who had defeated him in the Buenos Aires semis in February.
