The History of Men's Tennis (Open Era)

(1)Novak Djokovic d. (3)Rafael Nadal    6-2, 7-6(1)    [1:52 h]

Year after year, Nadal was unbeatable in Monte Carlo #, and many fans could expect he would collect another titles until his retirement. Actually I can’t imagine any other player than a Monte Carlo resident Djokovic, breaking that unbelievable winning streak. Circumstances before the final were  beneficial for the Serb, he saved a lot of energy winning previous two matches easily, while Nadal had tougher road to the MC-final in his past two matches than ever. Moreover conditions weren’t Nadal’s ally, the weather was rather ugly because the rain fall on Sunday (delayed the final 50 minutes) slowing the court down which meant Nadal’s heavy topspins couldn’t bounce extremely high as he loves it. The wise Djokovic sensed his chance in the initial assault and gave his best from the very beginning. He broke in the 2nd game (despite Nadal’s three game points) and took the momentum. The Spaniard had to force himself to harder work increasing the speed of his 1st serve considerably to save five set points avoiding a bagel set! Djokovic lost his sharpness, but gained the set on eight set point. Anyway, since Nadal stepped up in the sixth game, the match got the intensity everyone counted on. The 8-time champion raced to a 4:2* lead in the 2nd set when Djokovic regrouped and came back to the level he’d delivered in the first six games, managing to win three games in a row. It meant Nadal found himself as close defeat as never before during the record streak. He stayed cool though, held at 15, and a break in the following game put him in a position to serve the set out. Djokovic rested very well during the changeover and his blistering forehands gave him a break at ‘love’ and the possibility to enter the tie-break, in which Nadal played way beyond his abilities in terms of strokes and mental focus. The Serb quite easily produced five match points in a row, and finished the job on the first occasion with a booming forehand off Nadal’s return. “I think anybody who saw my expression in the end saw that it was a very emotional win for the reasons [of] living here and what I’ve been through in the last two weeks. It’s a very joyful moment for me,” said Djokovic. “I wanted that trophy badly all my life, especially in the last six, seven years that I’ve been spending my time and living here between the tournaments in Monaco. This is a great confidence boost before the rest of the clay-court season. The first six, seven games, eight games, were unbelievable. It’s the best that I can play on clay.” It’s Djokovic’s 37th title (14 Masters). For Nadal it’s been not only first loss in Monte Carlo since 2003, the defeat marks an end of 18-match winning streak (he had won three consecutive tournaments): “It is not a tragedy. I lost after eight years without losing here. Today, he was better than me… He’s a fantastic player. If you are not at 100 per cent, [it] is very difficult to win against these kinds of players. His game is very complete. To win, I have to play my best and I have to bring him to the limit.”

Doubles final:
J.Benneteau/N.Zimonjic d. (1)B.Bryan/M.Bryan 4-6, 7-6(4), [14-12] – 7 m.p.

Longest winning streaks in one tournament:
46 – Rafael Nadal (Monte Carlo 2005-13)
41 – Bjorn Borg (Wimbledon 1976-81)
40 – Roger Federer (Wimbledon 2003-2008 & US Open 2004-09)
38 – Guillermo Vilas (Buenos Aires 1973-81)

Match stats (total points: 78-61):
Winners:
Djokovic: 6 service, 2 aces, 13 FH, 6 BH, 4 volleys, 1 overhead, 1 dropshot
Nadal: 10 service, 2 aces, 10 FH, 1 BH, 3 volleys, 2 overheads
Errors:
Djokovic: 0 double faults, 14 FH, 18 BH
Nadal: 3 double faults, 20 FH, 22 BH
Break point conversions:
Djokovic: 5/12 (6 games)
Nadal: 3/6 (4 games)

2nd semifinal:
(1)Novak Djokovic d. Fabio Fognini    6-2, 6-1    [0:52 h]

A bridge too far for the flamboyant Italian. He picked off all the munition in his previous matches and facing the best player in the world he was utterly helpless. Actually it was a warm-up for Djokovic before meeting with Nadal. The leader of the ATP ranking limited his game to solid ground-strokes and it was good enough to break Fognini in every game when an opportunity appeared and hold seven service games with extreme ease – Fognini only once won two points as a receiver and it happened when he was 0/40 down. The Italian had been a crowd favorite the last couple of days, this time left the court being booed… “For me it was important to step on the court and get control of the match,” reflected Djokovic. “That’s what I did right away. I was aggressive. I knew what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to stay as short as possible on the court to get quick points. I played really, really well. He made a lot of unforced errors, which helped me to win.”

Match stats (total points: 54-26):
Winners:
Djokovic: 10 service, 3 aces, 2 FH, 2 BH, 4 volleys, 1 overhead, 1 dropshot
Fognini: 5 service, 1 ace, 5 FH, 1 BH, 2 volleys, 2 overheads
Errors:
Djokovic: 0 double faults, 4 FH, 6 BH
Fognini: 4 double faults, 12 FH, 14 BH
Break point conversions:
Djokovic: 4/5 (4 games)
Fognini: –

1st semifinal:
(3)Rafael Nadal d. (6)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga    6-3, 7-6(3)    [1:36 h]

Tsonga entered the match with career-best 5 match winning streak on clay. He had three break points leading 2:1, he was exceptionally close to build a nice advantage on the third break point when his forehand landed wide just by a couple of inches. It was a turning point, Tsonga lost his confidence since then, and the semifinal was going to be a disaster for him, similar to that he experienced in the Indian Wells quarterfinals against Djokovic. Nadal led *5:1 (30-all) in the 2nd set when Tsonga obtained two straight points with baseline winners. In the following game the Frenchman withstood a triple match point in a good style and unpredictable things happened: spectators began to cheer loudly for Tsonga, and Nadal seemed a bit shaky failing to serve out the match for the second time, and for the second time he couldn’t convert a match point on Tsonga’s serve (12th game). Decisive point of this match came at 3-all in the tie-break; Tsonga attacked the net with a strong forehand, but Nadal passed him down the line from a position only he is able to manufacture a winner. “I always try to be aggressive when I play him,” said Tsonga. “It’s the only way for me. If I stay back, there’s no way I can win. So I tried to do that. It is better to make it difficult for him like I did today in the end because then I can think maybe next time, if the conditions are better, I might do better.”

Match stats (total points: 77-62):
Winners:
Nadal: 11 service, 3 aces, 10 FH, 6 BH, 1 volley, 1 overhead
Tsonga: 6 service, 4 aces, 14 FH, 3 BH, 8 volleys, 5 overheads, 1 dropshot
Errors:
Nadal: 0 double faults, 14 FH, 7 BH
Tsonga: 1 double fault, 20 FH, 18 BH, 6 volleys
Break point conversions:
Nadal: 4/10 (6 games)
Tsonga: 2/7 (3 games)

4th quarterfinal:
(1)Novak Djokovic d. Jarkko Nieminen    6-4, 6-3    [1:17 h]

Djokovic’s movement improved comparing to previous rounds, however, he found himself again in a position to lose the 1st set. Nieminen established a 2:0 lead having won a very important first 10-minute game consisted of 6 deuces. He couldn’t capitalize though. Djokovic’s backhand was flawless through set and a half (no errors from that side in the first 40 minutes of play). It’s too tough for the Finn, who bases his game-style rather on retrieving, when he needs to dictate the pace he becomes vulnerable from the back of the court. The Serb was in command from *3:4 to the end of the contest with a little hiccup leading 5:1 (30-all) in the 2nd set. “It was great,” said Djokovic. “Played with the right intensity from the start of the match till the end. That’s a big step forward for me today comparing to the first two matches in every sense. I finally got a great feel on the clay. Hopefully I can maintain that level tomorrow.”

Match stats (total points: 66-51):
Winners:
Djokovic: 8 service, 1 ace, 8 FH, 0 BH, 4 volleys, 1 overhead, 4 dropshots
Nieminen: 9 service, 2 aces, 10 FH, 7 BH, 2 volleys
Errors:
Djokovic: 0 double faults, 14 FH, 5 BH
Nieminen: 1 double fault, 20 FH, 16 BH, 2 volleys
Break point conversions:
Djokovic: 6/10 (7 games)
Nieminen: 3/4 (3 games)

3rd quarterfinal:
Fabio Fognini d. (7)Richard Gasquet    7-6(0), 6-2    [1:26 h]

Fognini seems to me someone like Hicham Arazi for the generation of players born in the 70s. The Italian is able to play an inspired tennis when he’s an underdog and the arena he enters is big. Despite he hasn’t won an ATP title yet, two years after reaching quarterfinals at Roland Garros, he advances to semifinals of a Masters 1000 event. In his two previous matches against Gasquet he was destroyed, probably drew conclusions from those defeats and started third quarterfinal hitting the ball harder than ever. It worked because it gave him a break point at 3:1. Gasquet saved the break point, broke back and had a set point leading 5:4 – Fognini fought it off with a backhand volley. The Italian won 11 points in a row from 5:6. The 2nd set was equal until 2-all, since then Fognini took the momentum and obtained four straight games with a relative ease. “I played another time I think a really good match with a fantastic player,” said Fognini. “I mean, he is Top 10 and has won so many tournaments. Now I just have to say I’m really happy. It’s my first semi-final in Monte Carlo, my home. I’m so happy.”

Match stats (total points: 78-58):
Winners:
Fognini: 10 service, 3 aces, 14 FH, 8 BH, 6 volleys, 2 overheads, 5 dropshots
Gasquet: 6 service, 3 aces, 2 FH, 2 BH, 3 volleys, 3 overheads,
Errors:
Fognini: 1 double faults, 10 FH, 26 BH, 1 volley
Gasquet: 3 double faults, 9 FH, 16 BH, 2 volleys
Break point conversions:
Fognini: 4/9 (6 games)
Gasquet: 2/6 (4 games)

2nd quarterfinal:
(3)Rafael Nadal d. Grigor Dimitrov    6-2, 2-6, 6-4    [2:08 h]

This match almost turned into a total shocker. Nadal won the opener easily and it was impossible to think that Dimitrov would be as close to beat Rafa as no-one before during Nadal’s phenomenal streak of wins in Monte Carlo. In the 2nd set, the Bulgarian played more open tennis from his backhand side, instead of usual slices he was intelligently mixing the pace, the serve was working well (it helped him twice to come back from 0/30), and unexpectedly he got five games in a row, and led 30/15 on Nadal’s opening service game of the 3rd set. Later on, Dimitrov led 4:3* (30-all) which meant he was six points from unbelievable victory. Nadal in his 45-match winning streak in Monaco similarly close was only once – eight years ago 9 points away from loss in two different sets against Gasquet. The Spaniard reminded  that he’s a great champion and increased his level in the last three games, Dimitrov fought bravely in the final game, but suffered cramps and the Spaniard finished the contest with an ace. Nadal praised Dimitrov afterwards: “[At 21] he has time. He has time to have a great career… It’s not like golf, [when] you have 20 or 25-year career. Here our sport is more aggressive for the body, so we aren’t that lucky. He still has time and he is doing very well. I saw him play very well in Indian Wells and Miami. He did well here.”

Match stats (total points: 79-79):
Winners:
Nadal: 14 service, 2 aces, 12 FH, 2 BH, 2 volleys, 1 overhead
Dimitrov: 9 service, 8 aces, 9 FH, 9 BH, 3 volleys,
Errors:
Nadal: 0 double faults, 20 FH, 20 BH, 1 overhead
Dimitrov: 2 double faults, 23 FH, 20 BH
Break point conversions:
Nadal: 4/6 (4 games)
Dimitrov: 3/8 (3 games)

1st quarterfinal:
(6)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d. (13)Stanislas Wawrinka    2-6, 6-3, 6-4    [2:10 h]

They played for the fourth time against each other, every time in France, and every time it went to the distance. Wawrinka was full of confidence after trashing Montanes (6-1 6-1) and Murray (6-1 6-2) and took the first set quickly. Who knows, maybe it would have been another comfortable 2-setter if the Swiss had converted a break point in the opening game of the 2nd set – he failed and Tsonga found a way to force his opponent to bigger effort. Tsonga broke in the 4th game of the 2nd set in consequence of Wawrinka’s misery, broke also once in the decider and those two breaks of serve gave him a valuable victory – he moves through to the Masters 1000 semifinals on clay for the first time.

Match stats (total points: 95-94):
Winners:
Tsonga: 14 service, 6 aces, 10 FH, 3 BH, 7 volleys, 3 overhead, 1 dropshot
Wawrinka: 8 service, 2 aces, 13 FH, 8 BH, 7 volleys,
Errors:
Tsonga: 3 double faults, 26 FH, 26 BH, 1 volley
Wawrinka: 4 double faults, 23 FH, 22 BH, 1 volley
Break point conversions:
Tsonga: 2/6 (4 games)
Wawrinka: 2/12 (6 games)

The Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters has traditionally weaker field than two other Masters 1000 events held on clay. This year among Top 20 players withdrew: Roger Federer,  David Ferrer, Tommy Haas, Kei Nishikori and Sam Querrey. Novak Djokovic‘s participation was uncertain almost to the last minute – the best player in the world sprained his right ankle on April 7th and doctors prescribed him 10 days off court. Exactly 10 days later he appeared on court to face Mikhail Youhzny, dropped the first four games when realized that ankle is ok, and won the match as well as his another encounter (against Juan Monaco) in which he lost the 1st set again playing visibly below his motion-standards. Two players took advantage of a weaker field and tiredness of Top 10 players: Grigor Dimitrov [34] and Fabio Fognini [32] who eliminated Janko Tipsarevic (out of form lately) and Tomas Berdych respectively, on their route to first Masters 1000 quarterfinals. “For the moment I feel really good on the court,” said the Italian. “I just play really well these three matches. It’s my first time to reach the quarter-finals here in Monte Carlo. With the Italian people, I think they’re happy. I’m Italian, so I feel at home here.” “Really looking forward to that match tomorrow,” said Dimitrov on his match with Nadal. “Even for now I’m very excited. Hopefully I can perform at my best. It’s going to be a great match. I’m feeling quite good coming on court with [the top players]. I feel also physically I’m ready to kind of hang with them more as the match goes on.” Berdych after Miami said that he felt like it was the end of the season not just one quarter of it. Perhaps the Czech player put too much emphasis on his physical preparation to catch a contact with the Big 4 plus his longest doubles match ever (Davis Cup first round) might have taken its toll. Andy Murray skipped a Davis Cup tie against Russia to prepare himself for the clay-court season. For the time being this preparation doesn’t look optimistic – the Scot was humiliated in just 58 minutes by Stanislas Wawrinka in round three. The Swiss saved two break points at 0:1 in the 1st set and since then was playing on such a high level that Murray wasn’t even angry, he couldn’t simply do anything. “He’s an amazing player. He’s always tough to beat,” said Wawrinka. “Therefore, to beat Andy that easy was a big surprise, for sure. I’m playing really good, really strong, really confident with my game. I know what he’s looking for in his game. He’s playing slow, he’s playing from the baseline, he’s not putting so much pressure. For me on clay, it’s perfect.” Rafael Nadal is bidding to claim his ninth (!) consecutive title in Monaco and without any troubles has extended his winning streak to 44 after two opening matches. Jarkko Nieminen comes back to Masters 1000 quarterfinals after a 6-year-break (Paris 2006) surviving two consecutive 3rd set tie-breaks against hard hitters: Milos Raonic & Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine prior to MC had won 10 consecutive deciding tie-breaks; there was a punishing rally at 4-all in the tie-break, concluded with a cross-court backhand passing-shot of the Finn. Del Potro suffered a cramp in his right thigh, but couldn’t take a medical time-out,  lost another two points on his serve and the match 4-6 6-4 6-7(4).