Nadal came in with a 6-1 record against the Scot on clay and he is certainly no stranger to success here as the Spaniard once won eight straight titles, but the last of those came in 2012 and since then, his once dominant form on the surface has shown vulnerability that Murray was eager to try and exploit. “Suddenly in the third set, he increased his power and I just couldn’t cope”, he said.
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It was Nadal’s first Masters-level title in nearly two years and some much-needed confidence approaching the French Open.
“Being in a final here again in Monte Carlo, winning against very tough opponents”. Stan Wawrinka beat fellow Swiss countryman Roger Federer to hold the title in 2014, and Djokovic returned strong in 2015 to hold the Monte-Carlo Masters trophy once again.
The 29-year-old has now won clay-court titles in each of the past 13 years.
Nadal stopped playing momentarily after dirt got in his eye. Yet confounding expectations having looked out on his feet at the end of a 75-minute first set, Monfils continued to take the fight to the world No. 5.
“We will see how things are in the next six months (but) I have to enjoy this moment, ” Nadal said.
“I was expecting a hard match, and that is exactly what happened”.
The Spaniard who has ruled for most of his career on the dirt, went for two and three-quarter hours before beating Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 in a morale-boosting victory of massive proportions. 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. “I simply couldn’t find an answer”.
Capitalising on successive double faults early in the deciding set from Monfils – who has a poor record in finals – Nadal surged to his ninth career title in Monaco. After 33 shots, Nadal finally cracked-hitting a backhand out and botching another opportunity.
The last of 67 titles was on clay at Hamburg last August while his last final was in January, losing to Djokovic in Doha.
Dominika Cibulkova downed Aleksandra Wozniak 6-2, 6-0 to propel Slovakia past Canada 3-2 in their Fed Cup World Group II playoff tie on Sunday.
‘This is a special place for me, ‘ he said of a venue where he has won as often as at Roland Garros.
Murray felt the umpire was favouring his opponent and, after dropping his serve, hit the ball towards the umpire’s chair in frustration, prompting Dumusois to say “you have zero respect for what I do”. I’ll never be the same as I was in 2009 or 2013. “I don’t want to think about the past”. It doesn’t always influence the outcome.
“She was engaged from the get go and didn’t give anything away”.
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Monfils bounced back well to win the second set 7-5.
