Record tumble as Nadal shows clay-court class
RAFAEL NADAL became the first player in Open era history to win the same tournament six years in a row after cruising to victory in the Monte Carlo Masters.
The world No3 showed his dominance on the clay by thrashing fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 6-1 in just one hour, 27 minutes to claim his first ATP title since May.
In doing so, Nadal dropped just 14 games in five matches – smashing the previous clay-court record of 24.
“It’s fabulous to win so many times,” the 23-year-old said. “Thanks to everybody. You have all made me feel at home for six years.”
Verdasco had beaten world No2 Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals to reach his first Masters 1000 final, but he had no answer to his fellow countryman, who completed a tenth straight win between the two with a masterful display.
Nadal broke to love in Verdasco’s opening service game and never let up, taking the opening set in just half an hour. Verdasco managed to break the duck in the first game of the second set but Nadal stepped up a gear and made his superiority count.
Verdasco joked: “I hope that Rafa will get tired of winning here one day and let someone else win.”