China Open ATP - Official Site - Order of Play - Singles Draw - Doubles Draw - Qualifying Draw - Live Scores

Rakuten Japan Open ATP - Official Site - Order of Play - Singles Draw - Doubles Draw - Qualifying Draw - Live Scores

China Open WTA - Official Site - Order of Play - Sing les Draw - Doub les Draw - Qualifying Draw - Live Scores

By Adrianna Outlaw
© Mark Peterson/Corleve

(October 10, 2010) Rafael Nadal delivered commanding closure in Tokyo today. The top-seeded Spaniard stomped Gael Monfils,  6-1, 7-5 to win his first Japan Open title and capture his seventh title of the season in eight finals.

It was Nadal's43rd career championship and first tournament title since he claimed his ninth career Grand Slam crown at the US Open last month.

"Every tournament is very important; it is nice to win another big title like this one," said Nadal. "I won a lot this year but I have to appreciate how difficult it is and how much hard work you have to do. I improved a lot my serve and it is a big thing on a surface as quick as here in Tokyo."

Nadal scored service breaks in the second and sixth games in storming through the opening set in 25 minutes. Monfils, who saved a match poin in edging Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals, played more tenacious tennis in the second set. But Nadal broke for a 6-5 second-set lead then serve out the match. It was Nadal's seventh victory in eight meetings with Monfils.

“I wanted to win another big title after the U.S. Open” Nadal said. “Every tournament is very important.”

The 15th-ranked Monfils tumbled to the court in the earlier stages, twisting his ankle, but said the injury did not impact the outcome.

"It only affected me for a few seconds,” Monfils said. “I think Rafael just played solid. I could not find a solution.”

World No. 1 Nadal saved match points in the third-set tie breaker against Serbia's Viktor Troicki on Saturday, but bounced back strongly in today's final.

“Though there was a lot of tension against Troicki, it wasn’t physically very demanding,” Nadal said. "I started playing at high intensity, and that’s why I won the match,” he said. “I was very comfortable with myself.”
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