Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth Monte Carlo Masters Title

Rafael Nadal claimed a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title with victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Nadal, who beat Andy Murray in the last four, won 7-5, 5-7, 6-0, his 68th win from 100 finals on the ATP World Tour.

A double fault from Monfils, 29, closed out the first set in Nadal’s favour and the Spaniard recovered from losing the second to see off the 13th seed in two hours 46 minutes.

The 29-year-old has now won clay-court titles in each of the past 13 years.

Nadal won eight consecutive titles before losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic and called his first Masters honour since Madrid two years ago “so special”.

“I had a tough season last year, but I’ve had better preparation this year – even with a tough start to the season,” added Nadal, who withdrew from last month’s Miami Open with a virus.

“It’s great to win a Masters title again. I hope this week will help me a lot.”

It is a record-equaling 28th Masters title for Nadal, bringing him alongside top-ranked Djokovic, but a third Masters final defeat for Monfils.

They conceded 34 break points between them with Nadal converting eight of his 21 chances to edge his opponent, who managed five from 13.

Monfils, a runner-up in the Rotterdam Open in February, earned the backing of the Monte Carlo Country Club crowd as he tested Nadal throughout.

But having earlier saved set point, the pressure told on the Frenchman and he double-faulted to hand fifth seed Nadal a close-fought opening set.

The pair traded five breaks of serve in a grueling second, but it was Monfils who edged the former world number one to level.

Nadal then took control of the decider and raced into a 5-0 lead before landing a forehand winner at match point to win for the ninth time in Monte Carlo as he builds to next month’s French Open, which he will be seeking to win for a 10th time.

Credit: BBC

Rafael Nadal Wins Ninth Monte Carlo Masters Title

Nadal To Play Monfils In Monte Carlo Masters Final

Eight-time winner Rafael Nadal recovered from a set down to beat Britain’s Andy Murray to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final.

Murray broke twice to take the opening set 6-2, but wilted under the Spaniard’s power and accuracy to lose the next two 6-4, 6-2.

The win was Nadal’s seventh over Murray in eight meetings on clay and puts him into his 100th ATP World Tour final.

He faces Gael Monfils who beat fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 6-3.

Murray beat Nadal for the first time on clay in last year’s Madrid Masters final, but his hopes of being only the third player to earn back-to-back victories over the world number five on the surface were dashed in a brutal two-and-a-half-hour encounter.

Monfils overwhelms TsongaNadal will start a short-priced favourite when he plays France’s number 13 seed Gael Monfils in Sunday’s final.

Monfils started underdog against compatriot and eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the other semi, but took advantage of his opponent’s sluggishness around the court to dominate throughout.

Tsonga was a shadow of the player who beat Roger Federer in Friday’s quarter-final and even when he managed to break Monfils to get back on serve at 4-3 in the second set, he immediately lost his own again, allowing his compatriot to close out the match in comfort.

Credit: BBC

Nadal To Play Monfils In Monte Carlo Masters Final

Tiger Woods To Miss 2016 US Masters

Four-time champion Tiger Woods will not take part in next week’s Masters because of a back injury.

Woods, 40, has not played competitively since August and has had two operations in an attempt to cure the problem.

The American insists he is “making progress” in his recovery but has put no timescale on his return to action.

“I’ve decided it’s prudent to miss this year’s Masters,” read a statement. “I’ve been hitting balls and training daily, but I’m not physically ready.”

Former world number one Woods also pulled out of the tournament in 2014 with a back problem and finished in a tie for 17th last year.

“I’ve said all along that this time I need to be cautious and do what’s best for my long-term health and career,” he added. “Unfortunately, playing Augusta next week wouldn’t be the right decision.

“I’m absolutely making progress, and I’m really happy with how far I’ve come, but I still have no timetable to return.”

The 14-time major winner, who has slipped to 472nd in the world rankings, will attend the Champions Dinner at Augusta National on Tuesday.

Credit: BBC

Tiger Woods To Miss 2016 US Masters

Djokovic To Play Nishikori In Miami Masters Final

Novak Djokovic will play Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s Miami Open final after both went through in straight sets.

Serbia’s Djokovic, the five-time champion and world number one, beat Belgian David Goffin 7-6, (7-5), 6-4 on a hot afternoon.

Japanese sixth seed Nishikori beat Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 in the evening session.

“It’s going to be tough,” said Nishikori, who has won two of eight matches against Djokovic.

“We just played in Australia and I lost in straight sets, so I need to do something better.”

Djokovic, 28, will try to match Andre Agassi’s record haul of six Miami titles, and become the first man to win the Indian Wells-Miami double three years in a row.

Djokovic bent down and kissed the court after finally seeing off 15th seed Goffin in a gruelling two hours and five minutes.

“It was evident that we both struggled with conditions,” said the Serb.

“Physically, it was a great battle. I think we were both trying to catch some breath after some points. It was windy, it was warm, it was humid.”

The top seed came back from a break down in the first set, before Goffin missed a golden opportunity with the open court gaping at 4-4 in the tie-break.

“I was on the back foot in that point, he was dictating,” said Djokovic. “He came to the net and I anticipated where he might smash the ball, he framed it a little bit.

“I had to defend well, which I think I did at the end of the tie-break.”

Nishikori too sharp for Kyrgios

Kyrgios had shown off his firepower in beating Milos Raonic on Friday, but he could not handle Nishikori’s pinpoint accuracy from the baseline.

The Australian dropped serve with a double fault in game three, and did the same on set point six games later.

Nishikori looked to be faltering when he failed to hold for 3-0 in the second set, but the Japanese player avoided the need for a tie-break with a lunging volley on his second match point.

“It was tough. When he plays me he plays so aggressive, doesn’t let me dictate points,” said Kyrgios.

“I felt rushed out there, I was really looking for answers. I’ve been struggling on my serve all week, so to come this far without having my best weapon is a pretty good effort.”

Nishikori, 26, is through to his first Miami final and second at the Masters 1000 level.

Credit: BBC

Djokovic To Play Nishikori In Miami Masters Final