Without wanting to jinx it… is Monte Carlo Nadal’s to lose?

Written by: Staff on 13th April 2013

Without wanting to jinx it… is Monte Carlo Nadal’s to lose?

epa03629924 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the men's final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 17 March 2013. Nadal defeated Del Potro to win the match and the tournament. EPA/PAUL BUCK |

Rafael Nadal proved a lot with his tournament win in Indian Wells. By winning a Masters 1000 event, beating (an admittedly restricted) Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin del Potro along the way; Nadal apparently surprised even himself by going all the way – and his knees passed the test.

There was doubt as to whether he’d even enter the event, many people believing that he cwould only compete on clay until the French Open to minimise the stress on his knees and maximise his chances of success at Roland Garros.

The European clay court season is about the start, in the beautiful setting of the Monte Carlo Country Club, which is actually not even in the same country as Monte Carlo itself, but in neighbouring France. Nadal has won eight titles there in succession, the first time anyone’s done that anywhere in the Open era.

Although Nadal’s knee will always need to be cared for, it looks as though he’s fit for Monte Carlo and with Federer and Ferrer missing, and Djokovic still to confirm if he’s fully fit, following a nasty ankle twist in a Davis Cup match last week; the way is paved for Nadal to add to his amazing 42 match winning streak at the event.

Andy Murray will be there, and Nadal has been entered on his side of the draw – Murray is second seed due to his #2 ranking, despite his own admission that clay is his least favourite surface. Djokovic is in the draw, but with the world number 1 doubtful and the players ranked 3rd and 4th already withdrawn, would anyone bet against Nadal winning an incredible 9th successive tournament victory in Monte Carlo? Even if Djokovic does manage to nurse that ankle to the final, he’s got the memory of two finals defeats by Nadal to deal with – and last year’s was a 6-3, 6-1 demolition job.

It would be a record stretching feat on two fronts – no one else has won more consecutive titles at one event in the Open era, and also Nadal’s victory in Indian Wells was a record 22nd Masters 1000 title for him, putting him one ahead of Roger Federer in the all-time list.

The Spaniard rarely drops a set in Monte Carlo, and his last defeat there came in 2003 when as a 16 year old qualifier he lost to that year’s beaten finalist Guillermo Coria. It was the first of three successive final appearances for Coria – he won in 2004, then lost to an 18 year old Nadal in 2005, and no-one else has had a look in since.

Topics: Andy Murray, Monte Carlo, nadal, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News

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GameSetNash says:

April 16, 2013 at 11:40 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Without wanting to jinx it… is Monte Carlo Nadal’s to lose?: http://t.co/PkgQHhaYMo #tennis