Rafa Nadal: the undisputed ‘King of Clay’

Rafael Nadal claimed his record 10^th Monte Carlo title with his win over countryman Albert Ramos-Viñolas 6-1, 6-3, and leaves the first Masters 1000 tournament the undisputed “King of Clay” with most clay court titles ever.

Ten is an important number and a heavily symbolic one. In the Bible there are Ten Commandments, there are 10 kings in the Book of Revelations, there are 10 plagues, and the Passover lamb is sacrificed on the 10^th day of the first month.

In tennis, to achieve 10 titles in a major or a Masters 1000 was unprecedented, until Sunday. And that’s what Rafael Nadal, at the Monte Carlo final, achieving a historic 10^th title at the tournament in 11 finals.

When the match concluded, the tournament officials showed a slide show of his 10 wins on the big screen at Court Ranier III. Rafa smiled, perhaps thinking about the history, the significance, but probably the relief and joy after a year draught from his last win, less than a year ago in Barcelona.

https://twitter.com/RafaNadalFANS/status/856149884881305601

He’s made it to two finals this year, both up against his great rival Roger Federer, but this time he achieved the win, and he did it on his turf, the glorious orange clay he has dominated for more than a decade (there’s that 10-word again).

“So special, it’s unique. To win 10 titles in such an important event like Monte Carlo is just unbelievable,” Nadal said in his interview with Sky Sports afterwards. “So important for me.”

History doesn’t stop there, either. The win comes with the greatest clay court record of all time, with the most wins on the surface. Since his win last year in Barcelona, Rafa has equaled Guillermo Vilas’ 49 titles, but with the title in Monte Carlo, he now owns the record outright, an achievement he is expected to surpass over and over again.

“I think after a lot of years of experience on this tour, you learn how to enjoy every moment,” Nadal said after the tournament. “Today is a day to enjoy.”

And it is likely the 14-time grand slam champion will continue to add to his majors overhaul. Monte Carlo is only the first tournament in the clay season. Barcelona starts on Monday and he already owns nine titles there. Rome is the next Masters 1000 event, which he holds seven wins at. He faced Novak Djokovic last year, but lost. With another Masters 1000 trophy, he equals Djokovic’s record of 30.

Nadal is also playing injury-free after years of battling various ones and looks all but unstoppable in achieving another French Open crown, giving him his 10^th again. The Spaniard could be looking at deca titles at Barcelona and Roland Garros, and is likely to surpass Djokovic’s record of Masters 1000 wins as well.

“It really is unbelievable. To win 10 times at such an important event like Monte-Carlo, it’s something difficult to describe my feelings,” Nadal said, according to the ATP. “I feel lucky to keep playing tennis [and] being healthy all those years, in order to compete in one of the most beautiful events of the year, without a doubt. I am very happy to win another one. For me, it is a very important day in my career.”

For the tennis rivalry between #fedal, it continues on. All the Masters 1000 finals have been won by only these two so far in 2017. And with Rome coming up next month, it is likely the next Masters title will even things up between the two great rivals, with two-a-piece.

Nadal also turns 31 in June. With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic turning 30 next month that will mean that all the heavy hitters in men’s tennis will be thirtysomethings, a significant milestone.

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The first quarter of tennis season was 35-year-old Roger Federer’s. The spring is 31-year-old Rafa Nadal’s. These “old guys” just keep showing there is so much fight left in them and we’re loving every bit of it. They’ve managed to elongate the “golden age of tennis” and we’re all standing on our feet to watch this last act, however long it lasts.