 "Nadal’s 7th Monte Carlo Title: Victory Recap")
AP | MONACO
Rafael Nadal’s reign in the principality of Monaco seems eternal.
Back on his favorite surface, the world number one defeated his Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5 to capture the Monte Carlo Masters title for the seventh time.
“Winning for the seventh time here is much more than a dream, in my life I would have imagined it,” declared Nadal.
Nadal extended his winning streak in the clay tournament to 37, in which he has not known defeat since 2003. He also won his 44th crown and his 19th in Masters series events.
Nadal’s last defeat in Monte Carlo dates back to the third round in 2003, at the hands of Argentine Guillermo Coria. Nadal was absent from the 2004 tournament due to injury.
“Starting the clay season this way is fantastic, but winning in Monte Carlo makes it more special,” Nadal said. “This is the Masters that I vibrate the most when I play, this was in 2003 when it all started. Here I played ‘qualies’ (preliminary phase), I won two matches and for the first time I entered the top 10.”
The Spanish final came to an end when Ferrer left a ball in the net.
“There is always something special with this tournament. There are seven titles in a row. Winning seven in a row is something impossible. Today I was more tired than ever,” said Nadal, who had just played a tough semifinal against Andy Murray.
Nadal had just lost his three previous finals, including two defeats against the Serbian Novak Djokovic (Indian Wells and Miami) and the other against the Swiss Roger Federer (Masters Cup).
It was his first title on the circuit since winning the Japan Open last October.
“They were very tough defeats, especially the one in Miami, so today I came out a little more conservative,” Nadal said. “Losing three finals in a row hurts.”
Ferrer surrendered to Nadal’s superiority on a surface on which his compatriot is almost invincible. “Rafa is incredible on this surface,” said Ferrer. “He is the best clay court player of all time.”
Nadal also stretched his Open era record for most consecutive titles in the same tournament, which he set last year with his sixth conquest.
Last year he didn’t drop a single set, but Murray beat him on Saturday in a match that lasted almost three hours. The victory against Ferrer was quicker: 2 hours and 17 minutes.
For Nadal, this start is promising with a view to the French Open, the slam on clay.
Nadal went undefeated through the clay season last year and won his fifth championship at Roland Garros.
“He’s not a machine, he can lose,” Ferrer said. “Maybe if Rafa gets injured, he’ll have a chance there.”
