Nadal seals fifth Monte Carlo win

1 ANSWERS

1. Brett
   

   The world number one was pushed hard as Djokovic dominated the second set and had break points early in the third, before Nadal battled back to win.
   
   At just 22, Nadal has now equalled Roger Federer's mark of 14 tournament wins in the elite Masters 1000 Series.
   
   Only Andre Agassi has won more, with 17 Masters titles.
   
   "If I had to choose one Masters Series before the start of the season to win, Monte Carlo would be in the first position," said Nadal.
   
   Novak Djokovic
   
   "The city, the atmosphere, everything is special, the history of the tournament. Yeah, this tournament is always special for me."
   
   Nadal becomes the first man to win Monte Carlo five times in a row, but he faced one of his toughest examinations on a clay court in recent years.
   
   "I played a very good match, actually one of the best I have played against him on this surface," said Djokovic afterwards.
   
   "It's really unfortunate that in certain moments I didn't play the way I was supposed to play, with a little bit more patience."
   
   With only four wins in 15 previous matches against Nadal - and none in six clay-court encounters - Djokovic was under relatively little pressure for such a big final.
   
   And after recovering from dropping serve in the opening game, the 21-year-old Serb levelled immediately and began to mix his game up well, sealing a second break with a drop shot.
   
   
   
   Rafael Nadal
   
   Nadal was making more errors than usual but a couple of trademark forehands helped him break to love in game five and from there he reeled off another four straight games to take the set.
   
   Djokovic required the trainer for a back problem late in the set and the signs were not good going into the second, but the third seed came roaring back into contention.
   
   One of the rallies of the year saw Djokovic break serve in the opening game, thanks to a lob volley followed by a smash, and he fended off two break points to move 3-1 clear before getting the double-break when Nadal went long with a forehand in game five.
   
   Djokovic was increasingly happy to come to the net and looked in total command when he sealed the set - the first Nadal had lost in Monte Carlo for three years - with two successive aces.
   
   The beginning of the deciding set was a tense, closely-fought and dramatic affair, with the first three games all going to deuce and producing a hatful of break points for both men.

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