Rafael Nadal wins Japan Open
After losing in the semifinals in Bangkok last week, Rafael Nadal quickly rebounded to his winning ways with a dominating performance on Sunday defeating fifth-seeded Gael Monfils 6-1,
7-5 at the Japan Open.
It was Nadal’s first-ever win at the Japan Open and he clearly enjoyed his time there.
"I wanted to win another big title after the U.S. Open," Nadal said. "Every tournament is very important."
"I have to enjoy this moment," the 24-year-old Nadal said, promising to return next year. "You never know when it will end."
The top-ranked Nadal dominated the play in the first set, which only lasted 25 minutes. Nadal roared out to a 3-0 lead breaking Monfils in the second game. Monfils was able to hold serve
in the fourth game to make it 3-1, however Nadal then took over again in the sixth game to open up a 5-1 lead before eventually serving out the first set.
Monfils picked up his game in the second set, as the two players went head-to-head with strong play and acrobatic shot making. However, with the score tied 5-5, Nadal was able to break
Monfils in the crucial 11th game in the set to take a 6-5 lead. Nadal was then able to hold serve and close out the match.
Early on the match, Monfils suffered a minor injury after slipping and twisting his ankle. However, he said that it did not affect the outcome.
"It only affected me for a few seconds," he said. "I think Rafael just played solid. I could not find a solution."
"It was hard for me to adjust my game," he said. "It is hard to beat Rafael outdoors."
Nadal, who had lost to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Bangkok last week admitted that he was tired after a long season and was having trouble concentrating. However, it certainly did not show
during the early stages in Japan after breezing by his opponents in straight sets.
Nadal’s first big challenge in Japan came in the semifinals against Viktor Troicki where it looked like fatigue was setting in. Nadal needed three tough sets and faced two match points
against Troicki before surviving the scare and rallying to win 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. After that match however, Nadal admitted that physically, he felt fine.
"Though there was a lot of tension against Troicki, it wasn't physically very demanding," he said, adding that he pushed Monfils hard and saw the win as the product of his own aggressive
play rather than Monfils's early mistakes.
"I started playing at high intensity, and that's why I won the match," he said. "I was very comfortable with myself."
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