Nadal Gets a Needed Boost Ahead of the French Open

Scott Williams

Monte Carlo. Rafael Nadal was dreaming of a seventh French Open title on Sunday after clinching his eighth successive Monte Carlo title by ending a seven-final losing streak to Novak Djokovic.

Nadal, who came into Monte Carlo with more question marks over whether or not his suspect knees would bear the stress of another grueling clay-court campaign, gave the perfect response with a swaggering 6-3, 6-1 defeat of world No. 1 Djokovic.

The Spaniard’s next assignment is Barcelona where he has been champion in six of seven editions. “I am very happy because my knee didn’t restrict my movement,” he said. “I felt it a little bit, but when you can run after every ball, the pain is never a problem.”

Djokovic was admittedly under-done in the 78-minute final, playing with the grief he has borne all week after learning on Thursday of the death of his grandfather in Serbia.

After fighting through to three victories, he simply ran out of gas in the final. “Djokovic wasn’t the real best Djokovic,” Nadal admitted. “But in other finals that I played against him, I wasn’t my real best, either.”

Nadal had said before the match that he was fully prepared to accept a possible eighth straight loss to his Serbian rival, who beat him six times in 2011 — including for clay Masters 1000 titles in Madrid and Rome — as well as winning their marathon six-hour Australian Open title match in January.

But with Djokovic suffering, the rout for the Spaniard meant a huge confidence boost as the clay season gains traction heading toward the French Open in Paris next month.

“Monte Carlo is the most beautiful Masters 1000 tournament for me,” Nadal said. “To start the clay court season winning here is an amazing feeling.

“To beat Novak in a final after losing a few is an important result for me. It was important to break this series and to do it here, it’s perfect.”

Nadal’s victory marked his first ATP trophy since winning a sixth Roland Garros last June.

After the loss, Djokovic said, “I just didn’t have any emotional energy left in me.

“I was there physically, game-wise I was playing OK throughout the week. But it was a bad day. If I wanted to have any chance of winning against Rafa on clay, I needed that extra gear, which I didn’t have.”

Agence France-Presse