TENNIS NEWS – RAFAEL NADAL WINS IN MONTE-CARLO FOR HISTORIC 10TH TITLE AT ROLEX MASTERS

Written by: Staff on 23rd April 2017

TENNIS NEWS - RAFAEL NADAL WINS IN MONTE-CARLO FOR HISTORIC 10TH TITLE AT ROLEX MASTERS

epa05923553 Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning against Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain in their final match of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 23 April 2017. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

By Ricky Dimon

Give him 10.

Rafael Nadal became the first man in Open Era history to win the same event on 10 occasions when he triumphed at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Albert Ramos-Vinolas on Sunday afternoon. Nadal surrendered just nine points in eight service games and did not face a single break point the entire way while getting the job done in one hour and 16 minutes.

The fourth-seeded Spaniard engineered a convincing start by winning his fourth 6-1 set of the event (he also started the week with a 6-0 set at Kyle Edmund’s expense).

Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain returns the ball to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their final match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 23 April 2017. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

“I think that he was a little bit better in everything,” Ramos-Vinolas assessed. “When he’s a little bit better in everything, the difference is what we saw in the match. I also think I didn’t serve well, to be honest. I think he served really well today. Last time I played against him, I felt that on the return I had the opportunity to apply some pressure.”

That was anything but the case this time. Ramos-Vinolas managed to hold his own serve three times in set two, but he became even more hopeless in the return department. Nadal dropped only three points in his last four service games. The world No. 7 consolidated a break advantage on the way to a 5-3 lead before it ended in unceremonious fashion with a double-fault by Ramos-Vinolas.

“It really is unbelievable,” Nadal commented. “To win 10 times at such an important event like Monte-Carlo is something difficult to describe my feelings. Every year has been a different feeling. At the same time it is always a unique moment, every time, I have this trophy with me. There is a little bit of luck, (a) lot of things coming together to win this 10th title in an event like Monte-Carlo.

“I feel lucky to keep playing tennis, being healthy all those years in order to compete in one of the most beautiful events of the year. I am very happy to win another one. For me, it is a very important day in my career.”

Both Spaniards will now move on to the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell. Nadal, also going for his 10th title there, is the No. 3 seed while world No. 1 Andy Murray also headlines the field.