Top achievements of 2012: Rafael Nadal’s eighth straight Monte-Carlo triumph
Rafael Nadal’s eighth straight title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters 1000 event taking place in Monte Carlo, Monaco, was a top achievement this season. He triumphed over world number one Novak Djokovic
in the final showdown to defend his title.
The former world number one, Nadal displayed top notch skills to breeze past his entire rivals without losing a set and eventually grabbing his eighth straight title at this clay court tournament.
The Spanish top ranked star high-spiritedly entered the Monaco dirt. He eased past the Finn challenger, Jarkko Nieminen, in straight sets in the round of 32.
Nadal then went out of control in the pre-quarters and subsequently crushed the Kazakhstani qualifier, Mikhail Kukushkin, with double breadsticks in an hour-long marathon.
The 26-year-old maintained consistency in his game in the final eight. He outclassed the Swiss doubles gold medallist, Stanislas Wawrinka, in straight sets to set up a date with the ninth seed, Gilles Simon from France.
He required almost two hours to stomp over the French seed and booked a spot in the title-round where the top seed, Djokovic, was waiting for him.
Nadal had to overpower the Serbian number one from whom he lost in their past seven meetings. He unleashed flurry of winners and eventually clinched the match with a breadstick. The Spaniard dropped his serve once but cashed five out of eight break opportunities,
eventually sealing the deal with a 6-3, 6-1 victory in 79 minutes.
“It's very important to break that situation,” said the high flying Spaniard. “It's important to win a tournament another time. Especially [this] tournament. [Breaking] that situation [and] winning a Masters 1000, one of my favourites, [makes] everything
perfect today.”
Currently ranked fourth in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Nadal is currently recording from an injury he sustained after his shocking second round defeat at the Wimbledon Championships. The Spaniard did not record after that and ultimately
skipped all the following tournaments including the London Olympics and the US Open.
He is bidding to re-gain his old momentum in the upcoming season at the Australian Open.
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