MONTE CARLO, April 23, 2017
Rafael Nadal has won the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters for a record 10th time, beating fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos Vinolas in Sunday’s final 6-1, 6-3.
The fourth seed from Mallorca was in total control of the match, didn’t face a break point, converting four of his own to seal victory in one hour and 16 minutes.
With this win, Nadal becomes the first man to win a singles tournament on 10 occasions in the Open Era. The 30-year-old clinched his 50th clay-court crown, breaking the record he shared with Guillermo Vilas.
“It’s really unbelievable. To win 10 times in such an important event like Monte-Carlo is something difficult to describe. Every year has been a different feeling. At the same, it’s always a unique moment every time I have this trophy with me,” told Nadal, who has now won an ATP World Tour title for the 14th year in a row and improves to 63-4 in Monte-Carlo.
“I feel lucky to keep playing tennis, being healthy all these years and to compete in one of the most beautiful events of the year. Very happy to win another one. It’s a very important day in my career.”
Ramos-Vinolas was aiming to win his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title. The 29-year-old from Barcelona will move inside the Top 20 of the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday.
“Nobody likes to play a final and lose 6-1, 6-3. But I know how it is. I know that I have another tournament. I have to keep going. I will try to have my feedback with the good things I did this week. Not today, but maybe tomorrow I will be proud of myself, and I will restart again for the next tournament,” Ramos-Vinolas said.
Bopanna/Cuevas Take Doubles Crown
Earlier the day, Rohan Bopanna of India and Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay defeated the all-Spanish combination of Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-3, 3-6, 10-4 to win their first ATP World Tour team title. The encounter lasted one hour and 14 minutes.
“I am really happy to win our first title together. I’ve come to Monte Carlo for so many years. It is such a historic tournament. We had a tough start to the season, but it is great to have won. We came through some match tie-breaks this week and it is a good start to the clay season. I am looking forward to the rest of the tournaments,” Bopanna told.
“I am really happy to win, as I didn’t start the season well. I am happy to win with partner in the first tournament on European clay and I hope for a good run through to Paris,” Cuevas added.
