Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

A23
SPORTS Monday 23 april 2018

Even modest Nadal impressed

by record 31st Masters title

By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
MONACO (AP) — Usually
modest about his achieve-
ments, Rafael Nadal al-
lowed himself a moment to
appreciate his record 31st
Masters title on Sunday.
Nadal was at his dominant
best against Kei Nishikori,
United States’ Madison Keys returns a ball to France’s Pauline beating him 6-3, 6-2 in the
Parmentier during her Fed Cup semifinal singles tennis match, in Monte Carlo Masters final
Aix-en-Provence, southern France, Sunday, April 22, 2018. to become the first man
Associated Press in the Open era to win the
Keys sends U.S. same title 11 times. Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the men’s singles final

“It’s unbelievable,” Nadal
said, pausing to take it in.
into 2nd straight “It’s something difficult to match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament against
Japan’s Kei Nishikori in two sets, 6-3, 6-2, in Monaco, Sunday
imagine.” A 10th win in 12 April 22, 2018.
Associated Press
Fed Cup final matches against Nishikori hands into the air and then
wasn’t,
however,
even dropping a set, that part-
when the Japanese player ing moment seems a long jogged over to offer Nishi-
broke him for a 2-1 lead way off yet. His level of per- kori a sympathetic hug.
AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France are very fortunate to have early on. Nadal moved fection is something for oth- Nishikori is still working his
(AP) — Defending champi- such a strong group and one ahead of rival Novak ers to worry about. After his way back to form and full
on United States will play in now we are looking for- Djokovic for career Masters semifinal, he rushed to an fitness, after missing the
a second consecutive Fed ward to what is going to be titles. Nadal’s first Monte outside practice court to 2017 U.S. Open and this
Cup final after defeating a great final,” U.S. captain Carlo title came as a scrag- perfect his forehand. year’s Australian Open
France 3-2 on Sunday. Kathy Rinaldi said. gly-haired 18-year-old in “I was just looking to relax,” because of a torn tendon
Madison Keys secured Parmentier fought hard un- 2005. But Nadal had al- Nadal said. “To hit some in his right wrist. “It was a
the decisive point for the til the end and saved two ready burst onto the scene balls hard and to move the great week for me, I had an
visiting team by beating set points in the opener, but in astonishing fashion at arm without nerves.” injury and couldn’t play for
Pauline Parmentier 7-6 (4), ultimately surrendered to this sun-soaked Mediterra- Nadal’s win also ensured a long time,” said Nishikori,
6-4 in the second reverse Keys’ deep groundstrokes. nean venue two years ear- the Spaniard keeps his top who is ranked 36. He can
singles. Keys’ victory gave The Frenchwoman had lier, beating French Open ranking ahead of Roger Fe- take encouragement from
the U.S. an unassailable a chance to break back champion Albert Costa in derer, as well as taking him beating Tomas Berdych —
3-1 lead over France in the while trailing 5-4 in the sec- the second round. to 76 career titles. the 2015 runner-up here —
World Group semifinals. ond set but Keys used her It was the start of a remark- “To put another trophy in and Australian Open run-
The Czech Republic will big serve to win three con- able ascendancy for Nadal my museum, in my acad- ner-up Marin Cilic on the
host the U.S. in the Nov. secutive points and seal in becoming the best clay- emy, is going to be some- way to the final. Nadal has
10-11 final after defeating the match. court player of all time, un- thing great,” Nadal said. not dropped a set in sev-
Germany 4-1 in Stuttgart. The U.S. Open champion derlined by more than 50 “This is one of the most en matches since coming
The French later salvaged delivered a ruthless display titles on his favorite surface important ones in terms of back from a recurrence of
some pride in front of their against the 20th-ranked and including 10 French (my) personal feeling.” a right hip injury that forced
home crowd as Aman- Mladenovic and prevailed Opens, both of them re- Nishikori was chasing a first him to abandon during
dine Hesse and Kristina in 54 minutes. Stephens hit cords. The fire still burns as Masters title, but the Japa- the fifth set of his Australian
Mladenovic beat Bethanie 16 winners and converted strongly for Nadal. nese player took 11 min- Open quarterfinal against
Mattek-Sands and CoCo five of six break chances at “These kind of things not utes to hold for 1-1. Cilic. The injury relapse sub-
Vandeweghe 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. the 6,700-capacity Arena going to happen forever. “I knew it was going to be sequently forced him out of
The 13th-ranked Keys, Pays d’Aix on indoor clay. So (I) just try to play with the tough,” said Nishikori, who the Mexico Open and Mas-
a late replacement for “That was a really good full passion and with the full complained of tiredness. ters tournaments at Indian
Vandeweghe, came back one. You never anticipate energy and concentration, “My legs were very heavy Wells and Miami, but Nadal
from a 4-1 deficit in the first a scoreline like the way it full love for the sport until I today, playing three sets appears to be back to his
set and made the decisive turned out but it was really can,” the 31-year-old Nad- (for) three days in a row ruthless and rapid best on
break in the ninth game solid,” said Stephens, who al said. “I know the day to (before the final). It wasn’t clay. Now he has his sights
of the second set with two earned two points for the say goodbye is closer than easy physically.” firmly set on an 11th title at
consecutive winners. U.S. team over the week- 10 years ago.” Nadal won on his first match Barcelona next week, and
“The girls did so well, both end in the southern French Given how easily he won point with a stinging back- then an 11th French Open
today and yesterday. We city.q this tournament, without hand winner, thrust both title at Roland Garros.q