SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER!
 
 
Facebook Social Button Twitter Social Button Follow Us on InstagramYouTube Social Button
NewsScoresRankingsLucky Letcord PodcastShopPro GearPickleballGear Sale


By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, April 23, 2017

 
Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal swept an unprecedented 10th Monte-Carlo championship and record 50th career clay-court crown.

Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters

Highlights of history flashed across the scoreboard showing Rafael Nadal hugging each Monte Carlo title trophy with a loving bite.

Nadal embraced history with brilliant bite today.

More: Sharapova Stuttgart Grudge Matches

Punishing forehands from all areas, Nadal hit his way into history knocking out Albert Ramos-Vinolas, 6-1, 6-3, to capture an unprecedented 10th Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters championship and a record 50th clay-court championship.




Nadal’s 10th title run in Monaco comes 12 years after he defeated Argentine wizard Guillermo Coria to take the 2005 title.

“Difficult to explain the feeling,” Nadal told the crowd. “First time I was here in 2003 I had probably best tournament of my career in that moment. A lot of years later here we are with 10 titles—that is something I never dreamed. Thanks to life and thanks to all the people for all the great support all the years.”




The King of Clay solidified his status as supreme ruler of the crushed red-brick surface: Nadal is the first man in Open Era history to win 50 clay-court titles and the first to win the same tournament title 10 times.
 
The 30-year-old Spaniard rampaged to an Open Era-record 50th clay-court title breaking the record he previously shared with legendary lefty Guillermo Vilas, who presented Nadal with his first-ever ATP title trophy and has been in the stands watching Monte Carlo this week.

It is Nadal's 29th career Masters, second behind all-time leader Novak Djokovic, who has won 30 Masters championships.




This 70th title triumph marks the 14th consecutive year Nadal has won an ATP title.

Nearly a year to the day after defeating Kei Nishikori to win his last title in Barcelona, Nadal was in no mood to play the waiting game today. He served 76 percent, permitted just six points on serve and did not face break point in a commanding victory.

Contesting his first Masters final, Ramos-Vinolas was understandably jittery at the outset. When Nadal bounced a smash into the second row he applied triple break point in the 29-year-old Spaniard’s opening service game. Ramos-Vinolas wiggled out of that jam only to face another deep triple-break point deficit in the fourth game.

Stepping into the court, Nadal zapped a diagonal forehand winner into the corner breaking for 3-1.

The reigning champion hits harder and heavier and Nadal applied his advantage with authority. Frequently dancing to his right to unleash his favored forehand, Nadal pounded out a second break for 5-1.

The nine-time champion’s only true brush with turbulence came when he served for the set. A poor drop shot sat up, enabling Ramos-Vinolas to swoop in for a backhand down the line, drawing to love-30, before Nadal was hit with a time violation warning.

Shrugging it off, an assertive Nadal thumped a smash then looped a beautiful running forehand lob. Retreating quickly, Ramos-Vinolas bungled a backhand overhead attempt as Nadal gained set point. Slashing his second ace out wide, Nadal was commanding on serve, winning 15 of 19 first-serve points, in collecting the 30-minute opener.




Shedding his white shirt in favor of a blue one, Ramos-Vinolas changed his fortunes holding successive service games for the first time all day for a 2-1 second-set lead.

Arriving in the Principality armed with an ignominious 3-26 career record vs. Top 10 opponents, Ramos-Vinolas put together the best run of his career. The lanky left-hander fought back from an 0-4 deficit in the decisive set to stun world No. 1 Andy Murray then edged former US Open champion Marin Cilic before subduing Lucas Pouille in Saturday’s semifinals.

Outclassed by an iconic champion today, Ramos-Vinolas will reap the rewards of a breakthrough tournament. He is projected to rise to a career-high rank of No. 19 when the new ATP rankings are released tomorrow.

“Today I didn’t win but for sure last Monday I didn’t expect to be in the final against a great champion like Rafa,” Ramos-Vinolas said. “For sure the best player on clay in history. Congratulations, Rafa, I think to win this tournament 10 times I don’t know what to say, but it’s maybe impossible for another person.”

Firing his 16th winner helped Nadal gain two more break points in the fifth game. When Ramos-Vinolas sailed a backhand beyond the baseline, the reigning champion had the break and a 3-2 lead.

Whipping a serve down the middle, Nadal cleared court space for a crackling forehand winner then lasered his fifth ace out wide for 5-3.




The 15th-seeded Spaniard saved two championship points but spit up his second double fault bringing an anti-climactic end to a historic 76-minute victory.




An energized Nadal now takes aim at double-digit title totals in both Barcelona and Paris where a revitalized Rafa takes aim at prolonging the perfect 10.


 

Latest News