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 on Sunday.
Normally, having to face 47 break points in five matches to win a tournament on clay would be a big cause for concern for the nine-time French Open champion, but the Spaniard sees it as a sign that his famed fighting qualities are coming back, compared with last year, when he was more prey than predator on clay.
“This week, I was able to increase my level when things became tough, like I did before,” Nadal said. “That’s something I missed a lot.”
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In total, Nadal dropped serve 13 times in Monte Carlo and more clinical opponents might have made him pay.
The relief was evident for a profligate Nadal, as he overcame five breaks on his serve to win in Monte Carlo for the first time since the last of his eight straight titles in 2012. It also gave him a record-equaling 28th Masters title, bringing him alongside world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
He sank to his knees after sealing victory with a brilliant forehand winner, tilting his head back, closing his eyes to savor his biggest tournament win since the French Open in June 2014 and his first at a Masters event since Madrid a few weeks before that.
“It has been a very important week,” Nadal said. “The victory confirms that I am better.”
Nadal is not going to get carried away. He has his sights set on a ninth title in Barcelona, having not won there since 2013, which is when he last reached the final.
It was his first title of the year, having won only three last year — when he was riddled with self-doubt.
Last year, Djokovic battered him in the French Open quarter-finals; Stan Wawrinka beat him in the Rome Masters quarter-finals in straight sets; Andy Murray routed him in the Madrid final 6-3, 6-2; Djokovic won 6-3, 6-3 in the Monte Carlo semi-finals; and even erratic Italian Fabio Fognini beat him twice — in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona.
“Last year was a tough year,” Nadal said. “The nerves that I had, I was anxious in the matches.”
It took him 2 hours, 46 minutes to finally see off Monfils, who had never won a set against Nadal on clay.
“He increased his intensity and changed the way he was playing,” 13th seed Monfils said. “I simply couldn’t find an answer.”
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