Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the final during day eight of the ATP Monte Carlo Masters, at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 22, 2012 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco..
(April 21, 2012 – Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe)
MONACO (AP) – Rafael Nadal finally managed to beat Novak Djokovic in a final, thrashing the top-ranked Serb 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday to win the clay-court Monte Carlo Masters for the eighth consecutive year and end a run of seven straight defeats to his rival in title matches.
Nadal was hardly troubled by Djokovic this time and broke the Serb’s serve five times in a one-sided matchup.
He thrust his hands in the air after clinching victory in style with an ace that flew past the beleaguered Djokovic, who beat Nadal in an epic Australian Open final this year.
“Congratulations, you deserved to win for how you played this week,” Djokovic told Nadal on court after the match.
Nadal had promised to be aggressive and, after Djokovic held in his first service game at love, the Spaniard was relentless in running the Serb all over the court. It was his first title since last year’s French Open. He has won 42 consecutive matches in Monte Carlo.
Djokovic, who has been playing through grief since the death of his grandfather Thursday, struggled to find a rhythm, making 25 unforced errors to just 11 winners. Nadal, meanwhile, timed most of his shots to perfection and pushed Djokovic further and further back.
The breezy conditions seemed to bother Djokovic more than they did Nadal, although the swirling winds were not as intense as Saturday.
Nadal, the 10-time Grand Slam champion, found his range quickly and broke Djokovic in the third game when the Serb’s backhand went wide.
Nadal now leads their head-to-head series 17-14, but it was his first win against Djokovic since an early match at the 2010 ATP Finals in London. Nadal has not lost in Monte Carlo since 2003 — he was injured the following year.
Nadal broke Djokovic again in the second game of the second set, then he held serve at love to take a 3-0 lead.
That was soon 4-0 as Nadal won a long rally on break point. Djokovic looked to have won it with a big forehand, but Nadal somehow managed to lob Djokovic while fully stretched out. The ball landed right at the top of the court, surprising Djokovic, whose hurried return set up nicely for Nadal to whack another brutal forehand winner.
Although Djokovic broke right back, any thought of a comeback was snuffed out by Nadal when he broke Djokovic at love.
Fed Cup Roundup: Serena, U.S. lead Ukraine; Czechs on top of Italy
KHARKIV, Ukraine (AP) — Serena Williams overpowered Ukrainian teenager Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-1 to give the United States a 2-0 lead in the Fed Cup series on Saturday.
In the opening match, American Christina McHale defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
The U.S. needs one victory among the reverse singles and doubles on Sunday to return to the top tier of the Fed Cup group.
Williams is making her first Fed Cup appearance on foreign soil in more than a decade to help gain eligibility for the U.S. team at the London Olympics.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion could seal the U.S. win with a victory over Tsurenko on Sunday.
Williams only faltered once against the 17-year-old Svitolina, who managed to reach 2-2 in the first set after going down an early break.
“It’s easier in the Fed Cup, as you have a coach who can help and encourage to stay focused,” Williams said about U.S. captain Mary Jo Fernandez.
In Fed Cup semifinal play, the Czech Republic leads Italy 2-0, and Russia and Serbia were tied 1-1. The winners advance to the final.
Williams won four straight games and sealed the first set with an ace. There was a short delay while Williams had her ankle wrapped as a precaution, she said.
The 30-year-old Williams pounced on Svitolina’s weak serve in the second set and closed out the match in one hour.
The 19-year-old McHale lost the first game in the opener but won six straight to take the first set.
Tsurenko needed a marathon final game in the second set, converting a sixth break point. McHale took a comfortable 3-0 lead in the third set.
Czech Republic leads Italy 2-0
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) — The Czech Republic took a 2-0 lead over Italy after Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova won the opening singles matches of the Fed Cup semifinal on Saturday.
Safarova defeated Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (3), 6-1 before Kvitova used her attacking play to beat Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3.
The 23rd-ranked Safarova converted her first match point when Schiavone netted a backhand to improve her record over her 12th-ranked opponent to 5-3. Third-ranked Kvitova converted her first match point with a drop shot.
Reverse singles and the doubles are Sunday. The Czechs need to win one match to advance to the final against the winner of the Russia-Serbia series.
Russia, Serbia split singles, tied 1-1
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 Saturday to tie Serbia 1-1 after opening singles in the Fed Cup semifinal.
Jelena Jankovic won the opener for Serbia by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-3.
Serbia has reached the semifinals of the tournament for the first time. Russia, a four-time champion, has beaten Serbia in all three previous meetings. But the team is without two top players: Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva.
In Sunday’s reverse singles, Pavlyuchenkova will face Ivanovic, while Kuznetsova will play Jankovic. In the doubles, the Russian pair of Maria Kirilenko and Elena Vesnina will face Bojana Janovski and Aleksandra Krunic.
The winner of the matches will play either defending champion Czech Republic or Italy in the final on Nov. 3-4.
Tennis Recap: Nadal wins Monte Carlo; Serena, U.S. lead Ukraine / Czechs on top of Italy is a post from: PhatzRadio.com
