Nadal back to winning ways at Monte Carlo

Becomes the first player to win 10 tournaments at the same venue in the Open era; Bopanna & Cuevas triumph

Kick-starting the season: Rafael Nadal said the victory here — his first title from three finals this year — would give him the confidence for the rest of the clay-court season, and Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas declared that they would now play together right until Roland Garros.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for an unprecedented 10th time, easily beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-3 in the final on Sunday.

In the doubles final, Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas beat seventh seeds and reigning Roland Garros champions Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez 6-3, 3-6, [10-4] to win the title.

Nadal’s 70th career title was his first of the season; he lost three finals this year, two of those to Roger Federer.

Nadal faced little opposition on his way to becoming the first player to win 10 tournaments at the same venue in the Open era, and the first to reach 50 title on clay. He was previously level for the latter record with Guillermo Vilas.

“When I came here for the first time (in 2003) I reached the third round after coming through the qualifiers,” Nadal said. “Ten titles is something I never dreamed of.”

The only final the 30-year-old Nadal has lost at Monte Carlo was to Novak Djokovic in 2013.

Nadal’s celebrations were somewhat muted. He gave Ramos-Vinolas a sympathetic pat on the back, tilted his head back and put both hands on his head as his achievement began to sink in.

Nadal’s 70 titles are three better than Djokovic, who is a year younger. Nadal is fifth on the all-time list, but seven behind John McEnroe. Further ahead, the 35-year-old Federer has 91.

Ivan Lendl has 94 to his name, and Jimmy Connors is a long way away with 109.

Nadal’s 29th Masters title moves him one behind Djokovic’s record. He will also have his sights set on a 10th title in Barcelona next week, and at Roland Garros too later in the season.

“It has been an amazing week on one of the most important events on the Tour. I played well here, which helps me a lot to start the clay-court season with confidence,” said Nadal.

Nadal watched smiling as each of his Monte Carlo trophy presentations over the years was played on the big screen. The first photo, of him raising the trophy in 2005 as a distinctly shy 18-year-old who was taking tennis by storm, made Nadal laugh. It was the start of a stellar career on clay.

Special Correspondent from New Delhi adds

Bopanna was understandably thrilled at his first Masters title of the season.

“It is definitely overwhelming. There was so much riding on it. I was defending big points from the clay season last year. This title takes away a lot of pressure,” the 37-year-old said when contacted by The Hindu .