Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating Novak
Djokovic in the final of the Monte-Carlo Tennis
Masters
(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
Rafael Nadal continued his dominance of the Monte-Carlo Tennis Open in Monaco with a three-set win over Novak Djokovic of Serbia. The top-ranked Spainiard used his trademark all-out hustle to outlast the third-ranked Djokovic, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.
Nadal started off the match slow, falling behind 1-3 to begin the first set. However, just as quickly as he fell behind, Nadal reeled off five straight games to win the set.
“I started the match playing well. The first game, well, he play really bad. Later he played well with the 3-1. But later I played good tennis,” said Nadal.
Nadal’s win represents his fifth straight title at the Monte-Carlo Tennis Open and his 14th APT World Tour Masters 1000 crown.
Rafael Nadal extended his clay-court winning streak to 27 matches, losing only one set the entire tournament, dispatching Juan Ignacio Chela, Nicolas Lapentti, number 4 seed Andy Murray, and number 3 seed Novak Djokovic.
Although Nadal continues to dominate on clay, he still believes in the necessity of improving his tennis to stay on top of the rankings.
"Everyone can improve in every surface, no? No one is perfect. Sure, I can improve,” said Nadal. “And I work always to improve because when you feel you can't improve, is difficult to wake up and go on court and practice with the illusion, no?”
Nadal is currently playing in the third round of the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell after defeating qualifier Federico Gil 6-2, 6-2 in the second round.
Rafael Nadal is aiming to win the Barcelona Open for the fifth time in a row.
Other headlines:
Roger Federer loses in third round of Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters to Stanislas Wawrinka
Roger Federer loses in third round of Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters to Stanislas Wawrinka
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