TENNIS ATP Madrid – Rafael Nadal started his title defense in Madrid against Juan Monaco. The World Number 1 simply destroyed the Argentine 6-1 6-0 in the “Magic Box” stadium. Nadal was just spellbinding. Cordell Hackshaw
Interviews, results, order of play and draws of the Mutua Madrid Open
Half way through to the clay court season, world’s number one Rafael Nadal from Spain is in almost desperate need of a confidence boaster as he heads to Paris. In recent months, Nadal has looked well off his game, calling into question whether he will lift La Coupe des Mousquetaires at this year’s French Open for an unprecedented 9th time. It is said that there is no place like home and that adage might just be apropos for Nadal as he began his title defense at the Mutua Madrid Open 2014 today. The recent doubts about him retaining the French crown might have quickly been discredited as Nadal simply destroyed Argentina’s Juan Monaco 6-1 6-0 in the “Magic Box” stadium. Nadal was just spellbinding.
Nadal could not have asked for a more prefect opponent in the form of Monaco. They are good friends often seen together during the off seasons and Nadal has a 4-1 lifetime record against him with that lone loss due to the Spaniard’s retirement from the match in 2007. In their most recent meeting at the 2012 French Open, Nadal lost only 2 games 6-2 6-0 6-0. Nadal knows the Monaco game inside and out.
Monaco won the toss and elected to receive to start the match. The Argentine showed signs of wanting to make this a competitive match as he earned himself a break point in the opening game. However, Nadal raised his game and saved break point and subsequently broke for a 2-0 lead. Monaco would break right back for 1-2 but he would fail to win another game after this as Nadal simply dominated the rest of the way reeling off 10 straight games. Everything was working for the Spaniard, his footwork, his groundstrokes and his trademark intensity. It certainly added more in the Spaniard’s favour as the crowd as firmly behind. Monaco grew increasingly frustrated as he found it difficult to win points much more games in the match. He soon took issue with chair umpire, Carlos Bernardes but that did not help the Argentinian’s cause.
The statistics for the match are astounding for Nadal particularly in the second set. Nadal made 100% of his first serves and only lost 3 points on serve. Monaco, on the other hand, was able to get an impressive 86% first serves in for the set but only won a mere 2/12 points (17%). Thus in other words, of the 29 points played in the 2nd set, Nadal won 24 of them. The match was so one-sided that one is not sure whether it was Nadal playing that great or Monaco playing that horribly. Whatever, the case, Nadal will take this win and move through to the next round to face Jarkko Nieminen for a place in the 4th round. All of the top players who can possibly hurt Nadal are out whether by forfeit or failure as both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament and Stanislas Wawrinka lost to Dominic Thiem from Denmark yesterday. Thus, this is without a doubt, Nadal’s tournament for the taking and to collect his 4th Madrid title.
Nadal had much to say after the match, giving himself high marks for his performance. “Sincerely I think I moved better and played well, better than I normally play on the clay. I was dominating over the points and playing very well. I think I’ve done positive things.” The Spaniard added “I’m just playing here at home with lots of intensity, and I don’t care if Novak, Federer, or Wawrinka are not in the draw. I just look at my side of the draw, and I have to be ready for my next match.” This win put Nadal at 654 overall tour level wins and placed him in the 11th spot on the Most-wins list, just above the great Arthur Ashe. However, the Spaniard is not concerned about these statistical matters, he just want to win titles.
