The King of Clay’s ultimate goal this spring is title No. 11 at Roland Garros. But the current task at hand is accomplishing the same feat at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Ten-time Monte-Carlo champion Rafael Nadal will be looking to triumph yet again in the principality when he goes up against Kei Nishikori for the 12th time on Sunday afternoon. Nadal leads the head-to-head series 9-2 (3-0 on clay), but Nishikori has won two of their last four encounters. They have not faced each other since the bronze-medal match at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Nishikori prevailed 6-2, 6-7(1), 6-3.
Injuries have been a significant story for both veterans since then, but each one is heating up in plenty of time for next month’s French Open. Unsurprisingly, a return to the red stuff is just what the doctor ordered for Nadal–who did not play again on hard courts after retiring from his Australian Open semifinal showdown against Marin Cilic because of a hip issue. The top-ranked Spaniard clobbered Philipp Kohlschreiber and Alexander Zverev in his country’s Davis Cup quarterfinal defeat of Germany before cruising to straight-set wins in Monte-Carlo over Aljaz Bedene, Karen Khachanov, Dominic Thiem, and Grigor Dimitrov. Not one of the aforementioned opponents got to 5-5 in any set and none of Nadal’s Monte-Carlo foes took more than five games in total.
“I’m just going to take only the positives out of the match,” the No. 1 seed said after turning in a solid but unspectacular performance against Dimitrov. “It’s great to be able to play three, four matches back-to-back. It was great to start again on a good note. Today was maybe the match that I moved the best out of [them all]. I see a lot of positives for the upcoming weeks. I think physically also I’m at a good level in terms of moving well.”
Nishikori’s latest physical problem could be found in his right wrist, which forced him out of the Australian Open and led to a brief comeback at the Challenger level. The world No. 36 from Japan started slow on the main tour in New York, Acapulco, and Miami, but he has picked up the pace in Monte-Carlo. Nishikori punched his ticket to the title match by beating Tomas Berdych, Daniil Medvedev, Andreas Seppi, Marin Cilic, and Alexander Zverev. He needed three sets to scrape past everyone except Medvedev and he required a total of five hours and six minutes to survive Cilic and Zverev in the quarters and semis, respectively.
“It’s a tough final–as a Masters 1000 should be against a great opponent,” Nadal commented. “With Kei, we had a lot of good matches in our career. I know I have to play at my best to keep having real chances of success. It’s an important match for me tomorrow.”
“Rafa has been hitting very, very heavy, especially on his forehand but also his backhand,” Nishikori assessed. “He’s been playing very solid this week. I hope I can find a way to beat him.”
Even with all things being equal heading into Sunday, that would be unlikely at best. And all things are not equal. Whereas Nadal has coasted this week, Nishikori has to be running on fumes and there are still concerns regarding his wrist. Another routine day at the office should be in store for Nadal.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 5-7 games
[polldaddy poll=9986514]
who ya got?
GOAT in 2!!!
#TurnItUpToEleven
Indeed, tsames. Rafa in 2 and giving Kei the 5-7 games. I think he can do better than Dimi.
Wasn’t rafas best by a long shot. He played nervrous at times. Hitting short occasionally and dumping too many first serves into the net – always a telltale sign with him.
Thankfully for a Rafas, the field ain’t great.
Rafan dammit. Need to keep a better check on spell check.
Rafa in 2 for a record 11th title at one event and a record 31st Masters 1000! Rafa the record breaker!
Oh wow I forgot that. How many does Nole have?
Currently tied with Rafa at 30.
It’ll really help his GOAT debate
Rafa is the favourite and the better player so he should win but won’t it be nice if Nishikori wins?
He just has to believe, not get intimidated, stay focused, aggressive etc.
I believe in miracles 😂🤣😂.
Of course you do, no need for the sarcasm.
Hopefully Rafa can raise his level from today match,if he plays like he did in the first set it’s gonna be a pretty balanced match and Nishikori will have his chances. It’s great to have Nishikori back in a good form,he’s a great guy for the Tour!
Vamos Rafa for the Masters record 💪👑🎾
Rafa in two
Just hand Rafa the trophy, not more than 4 games for Kei
Why?
Kei might win 😂.
0.001% 🙂
😂
2-1 Nishi with a break
Keep your mind sharp and focused, stay confident, be strong and show off your warrior spirit, Rafa!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbYTXkgW4AAF5qW.jpg
Nadal in 2.
Don’t believe this. After the protracted multiple deuce game Nishikori promptly breaks Rafa’s serve. Back on serve.
Rafa a bit shaky in this final; I guess he’s nervous as this is his first final since Shanghai 2017. Hope he wins this in straight sets.
Rafa is not serving well in this match. He died seem a bit shaky.
He DOES seem a bit shaky. Rafa now serving for the first set.
It very well could be that it’s because this is his first final. He’s missing shots he would normally make. He needs to serve it out and not let Nishi back in.
15-30.
Please just serve out the first set NOW Rafa.
After a bit of a struggle Rafa wins the first set. I hope this helps him settle down.
Thank goodness for that!!!!!!!!!
I know Kei is a tough opponent on clay so this is a good test for Rafa; should Rafa wins this, I think it’ll bode well for him in Barcelona, facing potentially both Kei and Djoko who play similar style.
Nervous set from Rafa! Made numerous ridiculous errors, but wins the set in the end! That’s what counts!
Vamos for better game in the second set,Rafa!
That wasn’t Rafa at his best in the 1st set. OTOH Kei nearly always does give Rafa a hard time.
Kei has hoisted the white flag. 😉