“Monte Carlo has been one of the most special places in my career”, Nadal told the crowd on receiving the trophy.
Advertisement
The win would, however, be equally meaningful for Gael Monfils, Nadal’s opponent in the final, who unlike the Spanish player still has not dropped a set in Monte Carlo.
It proved to be the same at the French Open, with Djokovic beating the Spaniard there as well as Monte-Carlo.
The 22-year-old was unable to build on an impressive win over Klara Koukalova on Saturday and fell to a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Dodin, ranked 151 in the world, on the German clay. Still, Monfils dropped a solitary set in his entire tournament and played well, an indication that he could be a sleeper threat at the French Open. Andy played great tennis in the first set and I made him play even better.
“I served well today”, Murray said. But Nadal has since proven vulnerable, and the nine-time French Open champion relinquished his Roland Garros title previous year.
Murray failed to make the most of two break points in the next game and Nadal went on to comfortably serve out for the set.
Having won his first ATP title since August 2015 on Sunday, Rafael Nadal hope it brings about a prolonged upturn in form. Down 2-3, Nadal faced a scorching Murray who could do no wrong; three forehands into the net by the Spaniard gave the Brit a 0-40 lead and three break points.
Nadal now boasts 68 titles including 48 on clay and stands an impressive 58-4 at the tournament which he has now dominated like no other.
Nadal started strong in the second set too, and it looked that Monfils will not be able to follow that pace anymore.
Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic beat Kiki Bertens and Richel Hogenkamp 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a decisive doubles match on Sunday as France rallied from 2-1 down against the Netherlands to win 3-2 and reach its first Fed Cup final in 11 years. But he broke that slump with the triumphant victory over Monfils, the Frenchman himself now 0-3 in Masters Series finals.
He missed a chance to serve out the first set at 5-3 up, double-faulting. I felt that I needed to hit more with my forehand and it was tough to find that feeling, but in the most important moment I chose to go for the shots and to hit my forehand deeper and go for winners.
The first two sets on the clay were closely-fought contests, with both players claiming one apiece.
But Monfils broke him again with a brilliant forehand victor down the line for 4-3, only for Nadal to break back.
Advertisement
Mr Monfils moved into winning position with a break for 6-5 and kept the struggle alive as he won the set for one apiece.
