Rafael Nadal and Albert Ramos-Vinolas will be going head-to-head for the third time in their careers when they battle for the title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Sunday afternoon. Both of their previous encounters have gone Nadal’s way; 6-3, 6-0 on the clay courts of Barcelona in 2013 and 7-6(4), 6-2 at the same event one season later.
It is safe to that Ramos-Vinolas is not getting to face his heavily-favored countryman in the most ideal of settings. After all, Barcelona and Monte-Carlo are two of Nadal’s favorite tournaments. He is a a nine-time champion at the former and will become a 10-time winner of the latter if he triumphs on Sunday.
Of course, clay is also Ramos-Vinolas’ best surface by far. Playing the best tennis of his life right now, the world No. 24 is 19-11 this year and 16 of his victories have come on the red stuff. This is his second final of 2017 (lost to Pablo Cuevas in Sao Paulo) to go along with three other semifinal showings and three other quarterfinal performances–all on clay. Ramos-Vinolas punched his ticket to this title match by taking out Renzo Olivo, Carlos Berlocq, Andy Murray, Marin Cilic, and Lucas Pouille, winning his last three contests in three sets.
“I improved my tennis a little–my backhand a little bit,” Ramos-Vinolas answered when asked about his hot streak. “I improved my physical condition. I improved a little bit my mental condition. I also have more confidence. I think there are a lot of things that are going better. It helps me get better results than before.”
“He’s playing better than ever,” Nadal said of his upcoming opponent. “He’s winning huge matches during the whole week. He’s playing with big confidence, with great spirit and fight, overcoming tough situations in every match, and playing a high level of tennis all the time.”
Nadal has had no such trouble this week. The seventh-ranked Spaniard needed three sets to scrape past Kyle Edmund in his opener before picking up the pace to make routine work of Alexander Zverev, Diego Schwartzman, and David Goffin. Nadal is now 62-4 lifetime in Monte-Carlo and 23-5 overall this season.
If those numbers are not daunting enough, Ramos-Vinolas is going up against event greater odds because Nadal is 41-1 lifetime at the ATP level against fellow left-handers on red clay. Nor will it help that the underdog has a trio of three-setters in his legs and is playing in the first Masters 1000 final of his career.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 7 games or fewer
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Great hold to love. Where was that FHDTL on those BPs????
Awesome finish to the game! massive groundies and a goood drop volley to finish off perhaps the longest rally of the match.
Rafa playing so well, hitting hard and ensuring enough speed and penetration! Love it!
Go for it Champ! ❤️
Great serving, great returning ,aggressive groundies. 9 winners to 6 UE
ARV is nervous and clueless. It would have been a bagel if Rafa had converted one of those 3 BPs.
This one could be a bagel or a 6-1 again
double breadstick looming
No.
Rafa is perspiring like crazy! Why is it so? Maybe he’s very nervous, given the occasion? He took ave 33 sec between points in that last service game! Can’t believe he took that long, didn’t seem like it.
Well, at least first set in the bag now, so hopefully he can be calmer now and maintains his high level.
Yes nerves likely. The difference this year and last is that he’s managing it better not letting it control him.
loll ARV has come out all guns blazing!!
Don’t get ahead of yourself. He won his first set of the tournament 6-0 but it went three sets don’t forget.
he is playing much much better than that 6-0….
hehe…hate to say it, but rafa’s level is gradually dropping this set :p
I herewith withdraw my speculation made earlier this morning this match could be a three-setter 🙂
It could. I wouldn’t sell yet.
Rafa seems to be losing the long rallies these days, maybe he’s less calm nowadays? He should keep the points short against ARV, ARV seems able to get most balls back in longer rallies.
Boris Becker is in the house!
Rafa to win Barcelona as well if he continues to play at this level.
Have to agree w/Rick…the MC Finals is just too big a stage for ARV to play his best tennis….yes, he got this far, bur time to say “au revoir”!
So much for my pessimistic forecast the final could go to three sets. lol
Rafa is looking like his fierce self and ARV looks overmatched.
Just a break difference ATM.
And AVR just held to love.
Nerves can erupt anytime.
First DF and UE for 0-30.
As I was saying…
A double fault and an error means you are nervous? Lol, you are grasping at straws to try and make a point.
Rafa showing why is forehand is MATCHLESS on this surface .DAmnnn the angles that he created there !!
ARV shouldn’t hang his head though, he had a great week.
drop shots have been crappy today…
Great recovery from 0-30. Wow.
Vamos!!!
Great response from Rafa after going down 0-30. He closed the door!
Guys ARV isn’t done. He could obviously win this 1-6 7-5 6-0
Or he will lose 1 and 3. That’s probably a bit more likely
That was just brilliant stuff from Rafa!
Oooo a little baiting from Benny!
Gotta say I like it!
??? I’m all jokes hawks lol
But thanks I enjoyed it as well??
You’re a great fan here Benny.
Just ribbing you haha.
VINTAGE RAFA NADAL BRINGS OUT MATCH POINT FOR LA DECIMA!!
Rafa finally missed after ARV threw everything at him.
Another match point!
Let.’a do this Rafa!
Oops!
Third match point!
gone
that was absurd