Nadal tames Monfils for title
Source: Agencies |
October 11, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
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WORLD No. 1 Rafael Nadal overpowered Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-1, 7-5 to win the Japan Open yesterday, capping a week of "Nadal Fever" in Tokyo.
It was the Spaniard's seventh title of the year and improved his tour-best record to 66-8 after a flawless match in which Monfils failed to force a single break point.
"I want to finish the season well and winning titles is a prefect way to finish," Nadal told reporters. "It's difficult to keep winning. I have to enjoy these moments because you never know when they will end.
"I'm going to try to keep it going in Shanghai (this week) and the rest of the season and in London (ATP Tour Finals) - the most difficult tournament for me.
"Gael is a great player. He beat me in 2009 and we had a tough match at the US Open the same year. But I played really well today."
Nadal, fresh off a shock semifinal loss in Bangkok to compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, bounced onto the court like a prizefighter and quickly had fifth seed Monfils on the ropes with some brutal hitting from the baseline.
He wrapped up the first set with a ferocious forehand down the line but Monfils, who survived a fright when he took an early tumble and turned his ankle, raised his game in the second.
The Frenchman's extra energy gave the match its highlight point in the 10th game when he scrambled to return two overheads from Nadal.
Luck deserted Monfils in the next game, a net cord giving Nadal break point and the Spaniard nosed ahead 6-5 when a sliced backhand return floated past Monfils and landed flush on the line.
Nadal delivered the knockout punch in the next game, a big serve to the body ending the match and giving this year's triple grand slam champion a 43rd career title.
The 24-year-old celebrated by striking a gunslinger's pose as a packed crowd of 10,000 in Tokyo erupted in cheers.
Nadal, a nine-time grand slam winner, pocketed US$260,000 for winning on his debut in Japan.
The end of the match triggered a stampede for Nadal's autographs.
"I think Rafa likes my type of game and I didn't find a solution to give him any trouble," Monfils said. "Rafa is so tough to play against."
Meanwhile, Serena Williams has pulled out of this week's Generali Ladies Linz tournament in Austria after renewed problems with her right foot.
Organizers said in a statement yesterday Williams felt pain while training in Florida on Saturday and that a subsequent scan showed that her injury hasn't healed properly.
Williams has been sidelined since July after cutting her foot on broken glass at a restaurant after winning Wimbledon.
She returned to practice in September after having surgery but twice put off her comeback, withdrawing from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and the China Open.
It was the Spaniard's seventh title of the year and improved his tour-best record to 66-8 after a flawless match in which Monfils failed to force a single break point.
"I want to finish the season well and winning titles is a prefect way to finish," Nadal told reporters. "It's difficult to keep winning. I have to enjoy these moments because you never know when they will end.
"I'm going to try to keep it going in Shanghai (this week) and the rest of the season and in London (ATP Tour Finals) - the most difficult tournament for me.
"Gael is a great player. He beat me in 2009 and we had a tough match at the US Open the same year. But I played really well today."
Nadal, fresh off a shock semifinal loss in Bangkok to compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, bounced onto the court like a prizefighter and quickly had fifth seed Monfils on the ropes with some brutal hitting from the baseline.
He wrapped up the first set with a ferocious forehand down the line but Monfils, who survived a fright when he took an early tumble and turned his ankle, raised his game in the second.
The Frenchman's extra energy gave the match its highlight point in the 10th game when he scrambled to return two overheads from Nadal.
Luck deserted Monfils in the next game, a net cord giving Nadal break point and the Spaniard nosed ahead 6-5 when a sliced backhand return floated past Monfils and landed flush on the line.
Nadal delivered the knockout punch in the next game, a big serve to the body ending the match and giving this year's triple grand slam champion a 43rd career title.
The 24-year-old celebrated by striking a gunslinger's pose as a packed crowd of 10,000 in Tokyo erupted in cheers.
Nadal, a nine-time grand slam winner, pocketed US$260,000 for winning on his debut in Japan.
The end of the match triggered a stampede for Nadal's autographs.
"I think Rafa likes my type of game and I didn't find a solution to give him any trouble," Monfils said. "Rafa is so tough to play against."
Meanwhile, Serena Williams has pulled out of this week's Generali Ladies Linz tournament in Austria after renewed problems with her right foot.
Organizers said in a statement yesterday Williams felt pain while training in Florida on Saturday and that a subsequent scan showed that her injury hasn't healed properly.
Williams has been sidelined since July after cutting her foot on broken glass at a restaurant after winning Wimbledon.
She returned to practice in September after having surgery but twice put off her comeback, withdrawing from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo and the China Open.
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