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SPORTS Monday 24 april 2017

Nadal beats Ramos-Vinolas to win 10th Monte Carlo Masters

JEROME PUGMIRE tle bit better in everything, Nadal watched smiling as
AP Sports Writer the difference is what we each of his Monte Carlo
MONACO (AP) — As the saw,” Ramos-Vinolas said. trophy presentations over
first men’s tennis player in “Last time I played against the years was played on
the Open era to win the him, I felt that on (his serve) the big screen.
same title 10 times, Rafael it was my chance to put The first photo, of him rais-
Nadal showed Sunday some pressure. But today I ing the trophy in 2005 as
he’s likely the best ever on felt that he was serving so a distinctly shy 18-year-old
clay after easily beating Al- good.” who was taking tennis by
bert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-3 Nadal’s 29th Masters title storm, made Nadal laugh.
in an all-Spanish final at the moves him one behind “The first one here (was) so
Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic’s record. He will special. When I was a kid,
It was Nadal’s 50th career also have his sights set on a I always wanted to play in
title on his favored surface, 10th title in Barcelona next Monte Carlo. In Spain, Mon-
moving him one clear of week — Nadal’s previous te-Carlo is a very important
Argentine Guillermo Vilas. career title was there, al- event,” Nadal said. “There Spain’s Rafael Nadal holds up his trophy after winning his men’s
The next big challenge for most one year ago. are some moments in the finals match against Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas at the Monte
Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Sunday, April, 23,
Nadal will be winning a Since then, Federer has career are important ones. 2017.
10th French Open title. The beaten him in finals at the The first title on clay makes Associated Press
last of his 14 Grand Slams Australian Open and the a big difference. After that, every year after that — in- 2013 final. Stan Wawrinka
was three years ago in Ro- Miami Masters, either side I was confident enough cluding the next three fi- won in 2014 and Djokovic
land Garros. of a win for big-serving to keep going, winning in nals against Federer, who again in 2015, comfort-
“I want,” Nadal said after American Sam Querrey Barcelona, in Rome, then could never crack him on ably beating Nadal in the
Sunday’s game, a smile at Acapulco, Mexico. Fe- in Roland Garros.”He won clay. Djokovic did, in the semis.q
breaking across his face. “I derer also beat Nadal in
really want it too.” the fourth round at Indian
It was Nadal’s 70th career Wells.“(This title) arrives in
title but the first of the sea- just the right moment, I be-
son, having lost his previous lieve,” Nadal said. “Win-
three finals — two of those ning here is an important
to Roger Federer. step forward for me.”
The only final the 30-year- Ramos-Vinolas had lost Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
old Nadal has lost at Mon- his two previous matches
te Carlo was to Novak to Nadal in straight sets — FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
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difficult to describe,” Nad- poor unforced error gave
al said. “My serve worked Nadal a third match point
great. I have been hitting and Ramos-Vinolas dou- GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS
very well on backhand ble-faulted.
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Appearing in his first Mas- Nadal’s 70 titles are three
ters final, the 15th-seeded better than Djokovic, who ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS
Ramos-Vinolas saved three is a year younger. Nadal is
break points in his first ser- fifth on the all-time list, but
vice game and was 0-40 seven behind John McEn- SPORTSBOOK
down in his next. Nadal roe. Further ahead, the
served out the set in 30 35-year-old Federer has LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
minutes with an ace. 91; Ivan Lendl 94 and Jim- THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS
“He was a little bit better in my Connors is a long way
everything. When he’s a lit- away with 109.