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Nadal Sweeps Federer, Singles and Doubles Titles at Monte Carlo
Posted on April 27, 2008
World No. 2 Rafael Nadal beat No. 1 Roger Federer 7-5, 7-5 Sunday for the third time in a Masters Series Monte Carlo final, capturing his fourth consecutive Monte Carlo title, the first player to win four in a row.
The Spaniard also topped the Swiss in the 2007 and 2006 finals. No player has won three Monte Carlo finals in a row in the Open Era. Nadal rallied from 0-4 down in the second to improve his claycourt record against the Swiss to 7-1.
"I just try to fight every point because he was playing fine and I was going a little bit more behind the court, one meter behind," said Nadal on coming back from an 0-4 deficit. "So he has the control of the court, of the point, always in that moment. I thought I have to go a little bit more inside and try to fight for every point."
It was the first singles title of 2008 for Nadal, who also teamed with countryman Tommy Robredo to win the doubles as an unseeded pair, topping No. 4 Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles 6-3, 6-3.
"I'm very happy about winning my first Masters Series doubles title," Robredo said. "Winning it in Monte Carlo and playing with Rafa makes it extra special because one of our goals is to compete in the Olympics and win a medal for our country, so this is the first step."
Federer failed to maintain a consistent net attack during the two sets but was happy with his overall effort.
"I thought I played okay," Federer said. "Disappointing second set, I guess, after playing the right way against him and then letting him back into the match. It was disappointing. Maybe I didn't play my best for sure. But it's tough against him and he deserves to win in the end... because he's a helluva claycourt player...Honestly for me it's a very positive week of coming back from the brink in the first round, and beating great players on the way to the finals. I'm pushing Rafa today, having the feeling I can beat him, if I play the right way. And I think that's the feeling I didn't have after Monaco last year."
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