Rafael Nadal achieved history in Monte Carlo this past weekend, capturing his 10th singles title at the event by defeating fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, 6-1, 6-3, in the final. Nadal’s victory marks the first time in the Open era that one man has won the same tournament 10 times.
Here’s a little more on the 30-year-old legend and two-time US Open champion:
The Rafael Nadal File
Age: 30
Height: 6-1
Residence: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
Current Rank: 5
Career-High Rank: 1 (August 2008)
Best US Open Finish: Winner (2010, 2013)
The Baseline:
- The victory in Monte Carlo was also Nadal’s 29th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title, one shy of current record-holder Novak Djokovic, who leads with 30. Additionally, the win was a record-setting 50th clay-court crown for the future Hall of Famer.
- Nadal has now won an ATP World Tour title for a staggering 14th consecutive year – beginning in 2004 – and he boasts an overall record of 70-35 in tournament finals.
- Before this week, Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas had met two previous times, in 2013 and 2014 in Barcelona, with Nadal securing victory each time. With the win in Monte Carlo, Nadal improves his head-to-head to 3-0. Even more impressively, he continues to claim a perfect record when meeting a fellow Spaniard in an ATP World Tour final.
- Spanish dominance on the red clay of Monte Carlo comes as no surprise. Sunday’s final marked the fourth time in tournament history that two Spaniards battled for the crown. In 2002, Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated Carlos Moya, while Nadal defeated Fernando Verdasco in 2010 and David Ferrer in 2011.
- Nadal, who trails only Roger Federer in ATP points secured in 2017, will also be targeting a 10th Roland Garros trophy next month. If he were to win the year’s second Grand Slam, it would be his first major title since he won on the “terre battue” in Paris in 2014.
They said it!
“It really is unbelievable. To win 10 times at such an important event like Monte Carlo is something difficult to describe my feelings. Every year has been a different feeling. At the same time it is always a unique moment, every time, I have this trophy with me. [Of course], there is a little bit of luck, lot of things coming together to win this 10th title in an event like Monte Carlo.” – Nadal, after his victory Sunday over his countryman and fellow left Ramos-Vinolas
